KATY    MAKES   A    NEW    FRIEND. 


POOR  AND   PROUD; 


OK. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN 


far  |J0nng  Jalks. 


BY 


OLIVER    OPT1C, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  BOAT  CLUB,"  "ALL  ABOARD,"  "NOW  OR  NEVER,' 
"TRY  AGAIN,"  "IN  DOORS  AND  OUT,"  ETC. 


BOSTON: 
I.  E  K     AND     S  H  E  P  A  R  D , 

(SLCCKbsOKS   TO   PHILLIPS,    SAMPSON   *   CO.) 

1868. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  13f>8,  by 

PHILLIPS.  SAMPSON  &  CO., 
In  thr  Clark'F  '>R»c»  o«  the  District  Cour*  of  ih«»  Iiisrrict  of  Mnssach 


•TKKKOtfFID    AT    TBB 

«OATON     fcT/.HK.OTTPK 


TO 


A.  LICE    MARIE    ADAMS, 


IB  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED, 


BY  HEK  PATHEB. 


M189737 


P  R  E  F  A  C  R  . 


BOBBY  BRIGHT  and  Harrr  West,  whose  histories  were 
contained  in  the  last  two  T^umes  of  the  "  Library  for 
Young  Folks,"  were  both  smart  boys.  The  author,  very 
grateful  for  the  genial  welcome  extended  to  these  young 
gentlemen,  begs  leave  to  introduce  to  his  juvenile  friends 
a  smart  girl,  —  Miss  Katy  Rodburn,  —  whose  fortunes,  he 
hopes,  will  prove  sufficiently  interesting  to  secure  their 
attention. 

If  any  of  my  adult  readers  are  disposed  to  accuse  me 
of  being  a  little  extravagant,  I  fear  I  shall  have  to  let  the 
case  go  by  default ;  but  I  shall  plead,  in  extenuation,  that 
I  have  tried  to  be  reasonable,  even  where  a  few  grains  of 
the  romantic  element  were  introduced  ;  for  Baron  Mun- 
chausen  and  Sinbad  the  Sailor  were  standard  works  on 
my  shelf  in  boyhood,  and  I  may  possibly  have  imbibed 
some  of  their  peculiar  spirit.  But  I  feel  a  lively  satis 
faction  in  the  reflection  that,  whatever  exaggerations  the 
1  *  (5) 


6  PREFACE. 

critic  may  decide  I  have  perpetrated  in  this  volume,  1  hav€ 
made  the  success  of  Katy  Kedburn  depend  upon  her  good 
principles,  her  politeness,  her  determined  perseverance, 
and  her  overcoming  that  foolish  pride  which  is  a  snare  to 
the  feet.  In  these  respects  she  is  a  worthy  exemplar  for 
the  young. 

Pride  and  poverty  do  not  seem  to  agree  with  each  other  ; 
but  there  is  a  pride  which  is  not  irreconcilable  with  the 
humblest  station.  This  pride  of  character  finds  an  illus 
tration  in  the  life  of  my  heroine. 

Thanking  my  young  friends  again  for  the  pleasant  re 
ception  given  to  my  former  books,  I  submit  this  volume 
in  the  hope  that  Katy  Redburn  will  prove  to  be  a  worthy 
and  agreeable  companion  for  their  leisure  hours. 


WILLIAM    T    AJ)AM8. 
,  1868. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  1.  —  Katy  Redburn  and  others  are  introduced.     . 
CHAP.  II.  —  The  History  of  the  Silver  Watch.         ...  24 
CHAP.  III.  —  Katy  and  Master  Simon  Sneed  visit  the  Pawn 
broker's  Shop 35 

CHAP.  IV.  — Katy  matures  a  magnificent  Scheme.          .        .  47 

CHAP.  V.  — Katy  visits  Mrs.  Gordon,  and  gets  rid  of  Dr. 

Flynch 60 

CHAP.  VI.  —Katy  prepares  a  Stock  of  Merchandise.  .  .  74 

CHAP.  VII.  — Katy  makes  a  large  Sale.  ....  8^ 
CHAP.  VIII.  —  Katy  sells  out,  and  visits  the  Mayor.  .  .98 
CHA.P.  IX.  — Katy  talks  with  the  Mayor,  and  recovers  the 

Watch U1 

CHAP.  X.  —  Katy,  in  Distress,  finds  a  Champion.  .  .  .  123 

CHAP.  XI.  —  Katy  meets  with  extraordinary  Success.  .  13€ 

CHAP.  XII.  —  Katy  pays  her  Debts,  and  Tommy  goes  to  Sea  15C 

CHAP.  XIII.  —  Katy  employs  an  Assistant.    .                 .  1W 

(7) 


8  CONTEXTS. 

CHAP.  XIV.— Master  Simon  Sneed  makes  a  Mistake.   .  .  17C 

CHAP.  XV.  — Katy  gets  a  Letter  from  Liverpool.  .  .  189 

CHAP.  XVI.  — Ann  Grippen  plays  Tricks  upon  Travellers.  .  201 

CHAP.  XVII.  —  The  Sun  sets,  and  the  Night  comes  on.  .  214 

CHAP.  XVIII.  —  Katy  struggles  bravely  through  a  Series  of 
Trials 227 

CHAP.  XIX.  —  Katy  resorts  to  a  Loan.    .  .  240 

CHAP.  XX.  -  Mrs.  Gordon  feels  faint,  and  Katy  enters  a  new 
Sphere 252 

CHAP.  XXI.  — Katy  gees   to  Church,  and    has    a  Birthday 
Party.          .  269 


POOR  AND  PROUD. 


POOH    AND    PROUD; 

OK, 

THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN. 


CHAPTER    I. 

KATY    EEDBURN    AND    OTHERS   ARE    INTRODUCED. 

"  GITE  me  a  flounder,  Johnny  ?  "  said  a  little  girl 
of  eleven,  dressed  in  coarse  and  ragged  garments,  as 
she  stooped  down  and  looked  into  the  basket  of  the 
dirty  young  fisherman,  who  sat  with  his  legs  hanging 
over  the  edge  of  the  pier. 

"  I'll  bet  I  won't,"  replied  Johnny,  gruffly,  as  ho 
drew  the  basket  out  of  the  reach  of  the  supplicant. 
*k  You  needn't  come  round  here  tryin*  to  hook  my 
fish." 

"  You  hooked  'em,"  said  another  juvenile  angler, 

(in 


12  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 

who  sat  on  the  capsill  of  the  pier  by  Johnny's 
side. 

"  Who  says  I  hooked  'em  ?  "  blustered  Johnny, 
whose  little  dirty  paws  involuntarily  assumed  the 
form  of  a  pair  of  fists,  scientifically  disposed  and 
ready  to  be  the  instruments  of  the  owner's  vengeance 
upon  the  traducer  of  his  character. 

"  I  say  so,"  added  Tommy  Howard,  who  did  not 
seem  to  be  at  all  alarmed  at  the  warlike  attitude 
of  his  fellow-angler. 

44  Say  it  again,  and  I'll  smash  your  head,"  contin 
ued  Johnny,  jumping  up  from  his  seat. 

44  Didn't  you  hear  me  ?     Once  is  enough." 

Tommy  coolly  hauled  up  a  large  flounder  at  that 
moment,  and  threw  the  fish  into  his  basket.  It  was 
rather  refreshing  to  see  how  regardless  he  was  of  that 
pair  of  menacing  fists. 

44  Jest  you  say  that  once  more,  and  see  what  I'll 
do,"  persisted  Johnny. 

44 1  won't  do  it." 

*4  You  dasen't  say  it  again." 

44  Perhaps  I  dasen't ;  at  any  rate,  I  shan't." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  I  hooked  them  fish  ? "  ex- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  RKDHURX.       12 

claimed  Johnny,  desperately,  for  it  seemed  as  though 
he  must  do  something  to  vindicate  his  injured  honor. 

"  That's  just  what  I  did  say." 

But  Tommy  was  so  confoundedly  cool  that  his 
fellow-angler  had  some  doubts  about  the  expediency 
of  4k  pitching  into  him."  Probably  a  vision  of  de 
feat  flashed  through  his  excited  brain,  and  discretion 
seemed  the  better  part  of  valor.  Yet  he  was  not 
disposed  to  abandon  his  position,  and  advanced  a 
pace  or  two  towards  his  provoking  companion  ;  a 
movement  which,  to  an  unpractised  eye,  would  indi 
cate  a  purpose  to  do  something. 

44  Don't  fight,  Tommy,"  said  the  little  ragged  girl. 

44  I  don't  mean  to  fight,  Katy,"  — Johnny,  at  theso 
words,  assumed  an  artistic  attitude,  ready  to  strike 
the  first  blow,  — 44  only  if  Johnny  hits  me,  I  shall 
knock  him  into  the  middle  of  next  week." 

Johnny  did  not  strike.  He  was  a  prudent  young 
man. 

'4  Don't  fight,  Johnny,"  repeated  the  girl,  turning 
to  the  excited  aspirant  for  the  honors  of  the  r.ng. 

44  Do   you  suppose  I'll  let  him  teli   me  I  hooked 
them  fish  ?  '     blustered  Johnny. 
2 


14  POOR    AND    PKOUD,    OB 

•*  He  didn't  mean  any  thing.'* 

"  Yes  I  did,"  interposed  Tommy.  "  He  caught 
'em  on  a  hook ;  so  of  course  he  hooked  'em.  I 
hooked  mine  too." 

"  Is  that  what  you  meant  ? "  asked  Johnny,  a 
broad  grin  overspreading  his  dirty  face,  and  his  fists 
suddenly  expanding  into  dirty  paws  again. 

"  That's  just  what  I  meant ;  and  your  skull  is  as 
thick  as  a  two-inch  plank,  or  you  would  have  seen 
what  I  meant." 

**  I  see  now." 

Johnny  was  not  disposed  to  resent  this  last  insin 
uation  about  the  solidity  of  his  cranium.  He  was 
evidently  too  glad  to  get  out  of  the  scrape  without 
a  broken  head  or  a  bloody  nose.  Johnny  was  a 
bully,  and  he  had  a  bully's  reputation  to  maintain ; 
but  he  never  fought  when  the  odds  were  against 
him;  and  he  had  a  congressman's  skill  in  backing 
out  before  the  water  got  too  hot.  On  the  whole,  he 
rather  enjoyed  the  pun  ;  and  he  had  the  condescen 
sion  to  laugh  heartily,  though  somewhat  unnati.  rally, 
at  the  jest. 

**  Will  you  give  me  a  flounder,  Tommy  ?  "    said 


THi  fORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      15 

the  little  ragged  girl,  as  she  glanced  into  his  well- 
filled  basket. 

"What  do  you  want  of  him,  Katy  ?  "  asked  Tommy, 
turning  round  and  gazing  up  into  her  sad,  pale  face. 

Katy  hesitated  ;  her  bosom  heaved,  and  her  lips 
compressed,  as  though  she  feared  to  answer  the 
question. 

"  To  eat,"  she  replied,  at  last,  in  a  husky  tone. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Katy  ?  " 

The  face  of  the  child  seemed  to  wear  a  load  of 
care  and  anxiety,  and  as  the  young  fisherman  gazed, 
a  tear  started  from  her  eye,  and  slid  down  her  cheek. 
Tommy's  heart  melted  as  he  saw  this  exhibition  of 
Borrow.  He  wondered  what  could  ail  her. 

"  My  mother  is  sick,"  replied  Katy,  dashing  away 
the  telltale  tear. 

**  I  know  that ;  but  what  do  you  want  of  floun 
ders  ?  " 

"  We  have  nothing  to  eat  now,"  said  Katy,  burst 
ing  into  tears.  "  Mother  has  not  been  able  to  do 
any  work  for  more  than  three  months ;  and  we 
haven't  got  any  money  now.  It's  all  gone.  I 
haven't  had  any  breakfast  to-day." 


16  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

44  Take  'em  all,  Katy  !  "  exclaimed  Tommy,  jump 
ing  up  from  his  seat  on  the  capsill  of  the  pier, 
*  How  will  you  carry  them  ?  Here,  I  will  string 
em  for  you." 

Tommy  was  all  energy  now,  and  thrust  his  hands 
down  into  the  depths  of  his  pockets  in  search  of  a 
piece  of  twine.  Those  repositories  of  small  stores 
did  not  contain  a  string,  however  ;  but  mixed  up 
with  a  piece  of  chalk,  a  slate  pencil,  an  iron  hinge, 
two  marbles,  a  brass  ring,  and  six  inches  of  stovepipe 
chain,  were  two  cents,  which  the  owner  thereof  care 
fully  picked  out  of  the  heap  of  miscellaneous  articles, 
and  thrust  them  into  the  hand  of  Katy. 

**  Here,  take  them ;  and  as  you  go  by  the  grocery 
at  the  corner  of  the  court,  buy  a  two-cent  roll,"  whis- 
pored  he.  4k  Got  a  bit  o'  string,  Johnny?"  he  added 
aloud,  as  Katy  began  to  protest  against  taking  the 
money. 

44  Hain't  got  none  ;  but  I'll  give  you  a  piece  of  iny 
fish  line,  if  you  want,"  replied  the  bully,  who  wag 
now  unusually  obliging. 

44  There's  a  piece  of  spunyarn  ;  that's  just  the  thing 
I  want  ; "  and  Tommy  ran  half  \vay  up  the  pier  tc 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      17 

the  bridge,  picked  up  the  line,  and  commenced  string 
ing  the  flounders  on  it. 

44  I  don't  want  them  all,  Tommy  ;  only  give  me 
two  or  three.  I  never  shall  forget  you,  Tommy," 
said  Katy,  her  eyes  suffused  with  tears  of  gratitude. 

**  I'm  sorry  things  go  so  bad  with  you,  Katy,  and  1 
wish  I  could  do  something  more  for  you." 

44  I  don't  want  any  thing  more.  Don't  put  any 
more  on  the  string.  There's  six.  We  can't  eat  any 
more." 

"  Well,  then,  I'll  bring  you  some  more  to-mor 
row,"  replied  Tommy,  as  he  handed  her  the  string  of 
fish.  "  Stop  a  minute  ;  here's  a  first-rate  torn  cod  ; 
let  me  put  him  on  ; "  and  he  took  the  string  and 
added  the  fish  to  his  gift. 

44 1  never  shall  forget  you,  Tommy  ;  I  shall  only 
borrow  the  two  cents ;  I  will  pay  you  again  some 
time,"  said  she,  in  a  low  tone,  so  that  Johnny  could 
not  hear  her. 

44  Never  mind  'em,  Katy.  Don't  go  hungry  again 
for  a  minute.  Come  to  me,  and  I'll  help  you  to 
something  or  other." 

"  Thank  you,  Tommy  ;  "   and  with  a  lighter  heart 


18  P-)OR     VND    PROUD,    OR 

than  she  had  brought  with  her,  she  hastened  up  the 
pier,  no  doubt  anticipating  a  rich  feast  from  the  string 
of  fish. 

The  pier  of  the  new  South  Boston  bridge  was 
then,  as  now,  a  favorite  resort  for  juvenile  fishermen. 
Flounders,  torn-cod,  and  eels,  to  say  nothing  of  an 
occasional  sculpin,  which  boys  still  persist  in  calling 
"  crahpies,"  or  "  crahooners,"  used  to  furnish  abundant 
sport  to  a  motley  group  of  youngsters,  wherein  the 
sons  of  merchants  mingled  democratically  with  the 
dirty,  ragged  children  of  the  "  tenfooters "  in  the 
vicinity.  The  pier  was  neutral  ground,  and  Frederic 
Augustus  made  a  friend  of  Michael  or  Dennis,  ana 
probably  neither  was  much  damaged  by  this  free  com 
panionship  ;  for  Michael  or  Dennis  often  proves  to  be 
more  of  a  gentleman  in  his  rags  and  dirty  face,  than 
Frederic  Augustus  in  his  broadcloth  and  white  linen. 

Katy  walked  as  fast  as  her  little  feet  would  carry 
her,  till  she  came  to  a  court  leading  out  of  Essex 
JStitft.  The  bells  were  ringing  for  one  o'clock  as  she 
entered  the  grocery  at  the  corner  and  purchased  the 
two-cent  roll  which  Tommy  Howard's  bounty  ena 
bled  her  to  add  to  her  feast.  Elated  with  the  success 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      19 

r>f  her  mission,  she  quickened  her  pace  up  the  court 
-o  a  run,  rushed  into  the  house  and  up  stairs  to  her 
mother's  room  with  as  much  enthusiasm  as  though 
she  had  found  a  bag  of  gold,  instead  of  having  ob 
tained  a  very  simple  dinner. 

44  O  mother,  I've  got  a  lot  of  flounders  and  some 
bread  for  you  !  "  exclaimed  she,  as  she  bolted  into 
the  room. 

"  Then  you  have  money,"  said  a  cold  voice  in  the 
chamber  ;  and  Katy  perceived,  standing  near  the  bed 
on  which  her  mother  lay,  a  man  who  was  no  stranger 
to  her. 

It  was  Dr.  Flynch  ;  but  let  not  my  young  reader 
make  a  mistake.  He  was  no  good  Samaritan,  who 
bad  come  to  pour  oil  and  wine  into  the  wounds  of  the 
poor  sick  woman  ;  not  even  a  physician,  who  had 
come  to  give  medicine  for  a  fee,  to  restore  her  to 
health  and  strength.  It  is  true  he  was  called  a  doc 
tor,  and  he  had  been  a  doctor,  but  he  did  not  practise 
the  healing  art  now.  If  he  had  failed  to  make  a 
physician,  it  was  not  because  his  heart  was  so  tender 
that  he  could  not  bear  to  look  upon  pain  and  suffer 
ing  He  was  the  agent  of  Mrs.  Gordon,  a  widow 


20  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

lady,  who  owned  the  house  in  which  Katy's  mo-hot 
Lived.  Hi;  collected  her  rents,  and  transacted  all  her 
business  ;  and  as  far  as  dollars  and  cents  were  con 
cerned,  he  had  certainly  been  a  faithful  servant. 
But  Dr.  Flynch  was  a  prudent  and  discreet  man,  and 
did  not  hurt  the  feelings  of  the  good  lady  who  em 
ployed  him  by  telling  her  about  the  difficulties  he 
encountered  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  or  by  de 
scribing  the  harsh  and  even  cruel  means  to  which  he 
was  sometimes  obliged  to  resort,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  rent  of  poor  tenants. 

"  Mrs.  Redburn,"  said  Dr.  Flynch,  when  he  had 
hoard  the  exclamation  of  Katy,  "  you  have  told  me  a 
falsehood.  You  said  you  had  no  money,  not  a  cent. 
Where  did  you  get  that  roll,  child  ?  " 

44  At  the  store  at  the  corner  of  the  court,"  replied 
Katy,  abashed  by  the  cold  dignity  of  the  agent. 

"  Precisely  so,  Mrs.  Redburn  ;  but  you  do  not  buy 
bread  without  money.  You  have  attempted  to  de 
ceive  Vne.  I  have  pitied  you  up  to  the  present  time, 
and  indulged  you  in  the  non-payment  of  your  rent 
for  over  a  week.  I  can  do  so  no  longer,  for  you  have 
told  me  a  falsehood." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REOBURX.      21 

"  Xo,  sir,  I  have  not,"  pleaded  the  sick  woman. 

'*  Your  child  buys  bread." 

44  I  did  not  give  her  the  money." 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  money  to  buy  that  rcll 
with  ? "  demanded  Dr.  Flynch,  turning  sharply  to 
Katy. 

"Tommy  Howard  gave  it  to  me." 

"  Who  is  Tommy  Howard  ?  " 

**  He  lives  on  the  other  side  of  the  court." 

44  Very  probable  that  a  dirty,  ragged  boy  gave  her 
the  money  !  This  is  another  falsehood,  Mrs.  Red- 
burn.  I  lament  that  a  person  in  your  situation  should 
have  no  higher  views  of  Christian  morality  than  to 
lie  yourself,  and  teach  your  child  to  lie,  which  is 
much  worse." 

The  poor  woman  burst  into  tears,  and  protested 
that  she  had  told  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth  ;  declaring  that  Katy  was  a  good  girl,  that  she 
had  eaten  nothing  that  day,  and  would  not  tell  a  lie. 
Dr.  Flynch  was  a  man  of  method,  and  when  a  tenant 
did  not  pay  the  rent,  it  was  his  purpose  to  get  rid  of 
that  tenant  in  the  quietest,  way  possible.  In  the 
present  case  there  was  a  difficulty,  and  public  opinion 


22  POOR    ANT)    PROUD,     OH 

would  not  justify  him  in  turning  a  sick  woman  out 
of  the  house  ;  but  if  she  lied,  had  money  concealed, 
and  would  not  pay  her  rent,  it  would  alter  the  mat 
ter.  As  he  wished  to  believe  this  was  the  case,  he 
had  no  difficulty  in  convincing  himself,  and  thus  qui 
eting  his  poor  apology  for  a  conscience. 

Besides  being  a  man  of  method,  Dr.  Flynch  was  a 
man  of  upright  walk  and  conversation ;  at  least,  he 
passed  for  such  with  those  who  did  not  know  any 
thing  about  him.  If  Mrs.  Gordon  should  happen  to 
hear  that  he  had  turned  out  the  sick  woman,  he 
could  then  inform  her  how  feelingly  he  had  pointed 
out  to  her  the  wickedness  of  her  conduct,  which  he 
thought  would  sound  exceedingly  well. 

"•  Mrs.  Redburn,"  he  continued,  '*  I  will  give  you 
till  this  time  to-morrow  to  get  out  of  the  house  ;  if 
you  are  not  gone  then,  I  shall  be  under  the  painful 
necessity  of  removing  your  goods  into  the  street. 
Good  morning  ;  "  and  Dr.  Flynch  turned  upon  his 
heel,  and  walked  out  of  the  room. 

"  My  poor  child  !  what  will  become  of  us  ?  "  sobbed 
the  sick  woman,  as  she  grasped  Katy's  hand,  and 
pressed  it  to  her  bosom  with  convulsive  energy. 


THE   FORTUNES  OF  KATY   KKDBURN.          2d 

'*  Don't  cry,  mother ;  something  can  be  done.  1 
will  go  and  see  Mrs.  Gordon,  and  beg  her  to  let  you 
stay  here." 

"  You  must  not  do  that ;  Dr.  Flynch  told  me,  if  I 
troubled  her  about  the  house,  I  should  not  stay  in  it 
another  minute,  even  if  I  paid  the  rent." 

"  He  is  a  bad  man,  mother  ;  and  I  don't  believe 
Mrs.  Gordon  knows  what  he  does  here." 

"  There  is  one  thing  more  we  can  do,  Katy,"  con 
tinued  Mrs.  Redburn,  wiping  away  her  tears,  and 
taking  from  under  her  pillow  a  heavy  silver  watch. 
"  This  was  your  father's  ;  but  we  must  sell  it  now. 
It  is  all  we  have  left." 

'*  1  should  hate  to  have  that  sold,  mother." 

*'  We  must  sell  it,  or  pawn  it." 

•*  We  will  pawn  it  then." 

41  How  shall  we  do  it  ?  I  have  not  strength  to 
rise,  and  they  will  cheat  you  if  you  offer  it." 

**  I  will  tell  you  what  I  can  do,  mother  ;  I  will  get 
Simon  Sneed  to  go  with  me  to  the  pawnbroker's  shop. 
He  is  very  kind  to  me,  and  I  know  he  will.  lit 
comes  home  to  dinner  at  two  o'clock." 

This  plan  was  agreed  to,  and  Katy  then  went  to 
work  to  clean  and  cook  the  flounders. 


24  POOR    AND     PROUD. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    SILVER    WATCH. 

KATY  REDBURN  was  only  eleven  years  old,  and 
not  a  very  accomplished  cook  ;  but  as  the  children 
learn  faster  in  the  homes  of  the  poor  than  in  the 
dwellings  of  the  rich,  she  had  a  very  tolerable  idea  of 
the  management  of  a  frying  pan.  The  operation  of 
cleaning  the  flounders  was  the  greatest  trial,  for  the 
skin  of  the  fish  has  to  be  removed.  She  cut  her  fin 
gers  with  the  knife,  and  scratched  and  pricked  her 
hands  with  the  sharp  bones  ;  but  she  was  resolute, 
and  finally  accomplished  the  task  to  her  entire  satis 
faction.  An  occasional  direction  from  her  mother 
enabled  her  to  cook  the  fish  properly,  and  dinner  was 
ready.  There  were  still  a  few  small  stores  left  in  the 
closet,  and  Katy  made  a  cup  of  tea  for  her  mother, 
and  with  it  placed  a  delicate  little  flounder  by  the 
gide  of  the  bed.  The  invalid  had  no  appetite  ;  but  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATV  REDBUKN.    25 

please  Katy  she  ate  a  portion  of  the  fish  and  bread, 
though  it  was  very  hard  work  for  her  to  do  so.  The 
little  girl,  gladdened  by  this  unwonted  sight,  made  a 
hearty  meal,  without  a  thought  of  the  trials  and 
sorrows  which  the  future  might  have  in  store  for 
them. 

When  she  had  put  away  the  dishes,  and  placed 
every  thing  in  order,  she  washed  -herself,  combed  her 
hair,  sewed  up  a  great  rent  in  her  dress,  and  other 
wise  attempted  to  make  herself  as  tidy  as  possible  for 
the  mission  she  was  about  to  undertake. 

"  It  is  not  time  for  you  to  go  yet,  Katy ;  and  be 
fore  the  watch  is  carried  off,  I  want  to  tell  you  some 
thing  about  your  father,  that  you  may  learn  to  prize 
it  as  I  do." 

Katy  seated  herself  on  the  side  of  the  bed,  for  she 
was  very  anxious  to  hear  more  about  her  fatLer  than 
ghe  already  knew.  She  had  often  asked  her  mother 
about  him,  but  she  had  generally  evaded  her  ques 
tions,  and  did  not  seem  willing  to  tell  her  all  she 
knew.  She  thought  there  was  some  secret  connected 
with  his  history,  and  with  a  child's  curiosity  she  was 
eager  to  have  the  mystery  unfolded.  But  it  was  no 
3 


20  POOR    AND    PROUD,     OK 

great  secret,  after  all ;  only  a  painful  history,  which 
her  sensitive  mother  did  not  like  to  rehearse.  Mrs. 
Kedburn  handed  the  watch  to  Katy,  and  asked  her 
to  look  upon  the  back  of  it. 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  have  often  seen  those  wore 8  on 
(here  —  *  ALL  FOR  THE  BEST.'  What  do  they  mean  ?  " 
said  Katy. 

"  This  watch  was  given  to  your  father  by  my  fa 
ther,"  replied  Mrs.  Redburn,  with  a  deep  sigh,  for 
the  words  seemed  to  recall  happy  memories  of  the 
past. 

"  Who  was  your  father  :  "  asked  the  attentive  lit:le 
girl. 

"  His  name  was  Matthew  Guthrie.  He  was  a  mer 
chant  in  Liverpool,  England,  where  I  was  born  " 

"  A  merchant,  mother  ?  Then  he  was  a  rich  man, 
and  lived  in  a  great  house,  and  had  plenty  of  ser 
vants." 

"  He  was  rich,  and  lived  in  good  style.  One  day 
there  came  a  young  man  in  great  distress  to  his  count 
ing  room.  He  was  a  clerk,  and  had  been  sent  by  Ins 
employer  in  Manchester  to  pay  a  large  sum  of  money 
to  my  father.  After  leaving  the  train,  he  had  en- 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    KKDBURN'.  '27 

kered  an  ale  house,  where  he  had  been  robbed  of  the 
remittance.  He  had  been  imprudent,  but  instead  of 
running  away,  he  went  directly  to  my  father,  and  in 
formed  him  of  his  misfortune.  The  young  man  felt 
that  he  was  ruined,  but  he  said  he  was  determined 
not  to  leave  Liverpool  till  he  had  found  the  money. 
He  was  sure  he  knew  the  man  who  had  robbed  him, 
and  my  father  procured  the  services  of  several  police 
men  to  assist  him  in  his  search.  All  that  day  and 
all  that  night,  attended  by  policemen,  he  visited  the 
resorts  of  vice  and  crime,  and  his  perseverance  was 
rewarded  with  success.  He  found  the  man,  and  the 
money  was  recovered.  My  father  was  so  well  pleased 
with  the  energy  of  the  young  man,  that  he  gave  him 
a  situation  in  his  counting  room.  That  young  man 
was  John  Iledburn,  your  father.  My  father  gave  him 
a  much  larger  salary  than  he  had  been  receiving  be 
fore,  so  that  his  misfortune  in  losing  the  money 
proved  to  bo  a  piece  of  good  fortune  to  him,  for  it 
procured  him  a  much  better  situation.  The  new 
clerk  performed  his  duties  very  faithfully,  and  at 
the  end  of  a  year  my  father  presented  him  this 
watch,  with  the  motto  '  All  for  the  Best,'  in  allusion 


28  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

to  the    manner  in  which  he  had  obtained  his  sitd- 
ation." 

"  But  how  came  you  here,  mother,  if  your  fathel 
was  rich,  and  lived  in  a  fine  house  ?  You  are  very 
poor  now  ;  "  asked  Katy,  who  feared  that  the  mys 
tery  was  yet  to  come. 

Mrs.  Redburn  burst  into  tears,  and  covered  hei 
face  with  her  hands,  as  the  pleasant  memories  of  her 
former  happy  home  rushed  through  her  mind. 

"Don't  cry,  mother;  I  won't  ask  you  any  more 
questions,"  said  Katy,  grieved  to  find  she  had  re 
minded  her  mother  of  some  unpleasant  thing. 

"  It  was  all  my  own  fault,  Katy.  I  am  here,  poor 
and  wretched,  because  I  disobeyed  my  father ;  be 
cause  I  did  what  he  desired  me  not  to  do.  I  will 
tell  you  all  about  it,  Katy.  I  became  acquainted 
with  the  new  clerk,  John  Redburn,  and  the  result  ol 
our  acquaintance  was,  that  we  were  married  in  about 
a  year.  We  ran  away  from  home  ;  for  my  father. 
however  much  he  liked  John  as  a  clerk,  was  not 
willing  that  he  should  be  my  husband.  He  forbade 
John's  coming  to  our  house,  and  forbade  my  seeing 
him.  I  disobeyed  him.  We  were  married,  and  John 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      2d 

was    discharged.      My    father    refused    to    see    rue 
again." 

*'  That  was  cruel,"  interposed  Katy. 

"  My  father  was  right,  and  I  have  always  regretted 
that  I  disobeyed  him.  We  came  to  America,  and 
your  father  procured  a  situation  in  New  York,  where 
you  were  born,  about  a  year  after  we  arrived.  For 
three  years  we  got  along  very  well.  I  wish  I  could 
stop  here,  Katy,  for  the  rest  of  the  story  is  very  sad." 

"  Don't  tell  me  any  more,  mother  ;  it  makes  you 
feel  so  bad,  I  would  rather  not  hear  it.  I  know  now 
why  you  value  the  watch  so  much,  and  I  hope  we 
shall  be  able  to  get  it  back  again." 

"  I  fear  not.  But  you  must  hear  the  rest  of  this 
gad  story." 

Mrs.  Redburn  continued  the  narrative,  though  tears 
blinded  her  eyes,  and  sobs  choked  her  utterance,  as 
she  told  of  the  struggle  she  had  had  with  poverty  an.l 
want.  Her  husband  had  done  very  well  in  New 
York  ;  and,  gay  and  light-hearted  in  the  midst  of  his 
prosperity,  his  habits  had  been  gradually  growing 
worse  and  worse,  till  he  lost  his  situation,  and  be- 
cimea  common  sot.  The  poor  w;ff*had  then  been 
3* 


*0  POOR     A.ND    PROUD,    OR 

compelled  to  toil  for  her  own  support  and  that  of  hei 
child  ;  and  having  been  brought  up  in  luxury  and 
ease,  it  was  a  dreadful  task  to  her. 

John  obtained  another  situation,  but  soon  lost  it. 
He  was  a  good-hearted  man  when  he  had  not  been 
drinking,  and  keenly  felt  the  disgrace  and  misery  he 
was  heaping  upon  himself  and  his  unhappy  wife. 
Once  he  had  the  resolution  to  abandon  the  cup,  fully 
determined  to  redeem  his  lost  character,  and  make 
his  family  happy  again.  The  better  to  accomplish 
this,  he  removed  to  Boston,  where  he  obtained  a  good 
situation,  and  for  more  than  a  year  he  adhered  to  his 
resolution.  Mrs.  Redburn  was  happy  again,  and 
tremblingly  hoped  that  the  clouds  of  darkness  had 
forever  passed  away. 

The  evil  time  came  again,  and  John  Redburn  sank 
down  lower  than  ever  before.  His  wife  lost  all  hope 
of  him,  and  struggled,  with  the  courage  of  a  hero 
and  the  fortitude  of  a  martyr,  against  the  adverse 
tide  that  set  against  her.  She  was  fortunate  in  ob 
taining  plenty  of  sewing,  and  was  able  to  support 
herself  and  child  very  well ;  but  her  husband,  no\v 
lost  to  all  scnse*of  decency,  contrived  to  obtain,  froiii 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  KEDBURN.      31 

time  to  time,  a  portion  of  her  hard  earnings.  She 
could  never  have  believed  that  John  Iledburn  would 
come  to  this  ;  for,  as  a  clerk  in  her  father's  counting 
room,  he  had  been  all  that  was  good  and  noble  ;  but 
there  he  was,  a  miserable  sot,  lost  to  himself,  to  his 
family,  and  the  world. 

One  morning  in  winter  he  was  brought  home  to 
her  dead.  He  had  died  in  the  watch  house  of  de 
lirium  tremcns.  He  was  buried,  and  peace,  if  not 
hope,  settled  on  the  brow  of  the  broken-hearted  wife. 

Year  after  year  Mrs.  Iledburn  struggled  on,  often 
with  feeble  hands  and  fainting  heart,  to  earn  a  sub 
sistence  for  herself  and  Katy.  She  had  been  bred  in 
opulence,  and  her  wants  were  not  so  few  and  simple 
as  the  wants  of  those  who  have  never  enjoyed  the  lux 
ury  of  a  soft  couch  and  a  well-supplied  table.  She 
had  never  learned  that  calculating  economy  which 
provides  a  great  deal  with  very  small  means.  Hence 
it  was  much  harder  for  her  to  support  herself  and 
child,  than  it  would  have  been  for  one  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  a  hovel. 

She  had  done  very  well,  however,  until,  a  few 
months  before  our  story  opens,  she  had  been  takoi 


32  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OB 

eick,  and  was  no  longer  able  to  work.  Her  disease 
was  an  affection  of  the  spine,  which  was  at  times  very 
painful,  and  confined  her  to  the  bed. 

44  But  where  is  your  father  now  ? "  asked  Katy, 
when  her  mother  had  finished  the  narrative. 

44 1  do  not  know  ;  if  he  is  alive,  he  probably  livea 
in  Liverpool." 

44  Why  don't  you  write  a  letter  to  him  ?  " 

44 1  have  done  so  several  times,  but  have  never 
received  any  reply.  I  wrote  shortly  after  your  father 
died,  giving  an  account  of  my  situation.  I  am  sure 
my  father  never  could  have  got  my  letter,  or  he  would 
have  answered  me.  I  know  he  would  not  let  me 
suffer  here  in  woe  and  want,  if  he  were  aware  of  my 
condition." 

44  Why  don't  you  write  again  ?  " 

44  It  is  useless." 

44  Let  me  write,  mother.  I  will  call  him  dear 
grandfather,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  send  you  some 
money  then  :  perhaps  he  will  send  for  us  to  go  to 
Liverpool,  and  live  in  his  great  house,  and  have  ser 
vants  to  wait  upon  us." 

••  Alas,  my  child,  I  have  given  up  all  hope  of  evel 


THE    FORTUNES    OF     KATY    REDBURN.  83 

Beting  liim  again  in  this  world.  In  my  letters  I 
confessed  my  fault,  and  begged  his  forgiveness.  He 
cannot  be  alive,  or  I  am  sure  my  last  letter*  would 
have  melted  his  heart." 

"  Haven't  you  any  brothers  and  sisters,  mother  ?  " 

"  I  had  one  sister  ;  and  I  have  written  several  let 
ters  to  her,  but  with  no  better  success  They  rray 
be  all  dead.  I  fear  they  are." 

44  And  your  mother  r '' 

•'  She  died  when  I  was  young.  I  krow  Jane 
would  have  answered  my  letters  if  she  had  received 
them." 

"  She  was  your  sister." 

"  Yes ;  she  must  be  dead ;  and  I  suppose  my 
father's  property  must,  be  in  the  hands  of  strangers, 
covering  their  floors  with  soft  carpets,  and  their  ta 
bles  with  nice  food,  while  I  lie  here  in  misery,  and 
my  poor  child  actually  suffers  from  hunger  ;  "  and 
the  afflicted  mother  clasped  her  daughter  in  her 
arms,  and  wept  as  though  her  heart  would  burst. 

•'  Don't  cry,  mother.     I  was  not  very  hungry.     V»re 

'  have  had  enough  to  eat  till  to-day.     I  am  going   to 

cake  care  of  you  now,  you  have  taken  care  of  me   so 


34  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

long,'*  replied  Katy,  as  she  wiped  away  the  tears  that 
flowed  down  her  mother's  wan  cheek. 

"  What  can  you  do,  poor  child  ?  " 

"  I  can  do  a  great  many  things  ;  I  am  sure  I  can 
earn  money  enough  to  support  us  both." 

"  It  is  hard  to  think  how  much  I  have  suffered, 
and  how  much  of  woe  there  may  be  in  the  future  for 
me,"  sobbed  Mrs.  Redburn. 

"  Don't  cry,  mother.  You  know  what  it  says  on 
the  watch  —  'ALL  FOR  THE  BEST.'  Who  knows 
but  that  all  your  sorrows  are  for  the  best  ? " 

"I  hope  they  are;  I  will  try  to  think  they  are. 
But  it  is  time  for  you  to  go.  Pawn  the  watch  for  &a 
much  as  you  can  ;  and  I  trust  that  some  fortunate 
event  will  enable  us  to  redeem  it." 

Katy  took  the  watch,  smoothed  down  her  hail 
again,  put  on  her  worn-out  bonnet,  and  left  the 
ELCUBC. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBUKN.      S3 


CHAPTER    III. 

KATY  AND  MASTER  SIMON  SNEED  VISIT  THE 
PAWNBROKER'S   SHOP. 

THE  court  in  which  Katy  lived  had  once  been  the 
abode  of  many  very  respectable  families,  to  use  a 
popular  word,  for  respectable  does  not  always  mean 
worthy  of  respect  on  account  of  one's  virtues,  but 
worthy  of  respect  on  account  of  one's  lands,  houses, 
and  money.  In  the  former  sense  it  was  still  occu 
pied  by  very  respectable  families,  though  none  of 
them  possessed  much  of  the  "  goods  that  perish  in 
the  using."  Mrs.  Redburn,  the  seamstress,  was  very 
respectable ;  Mrs.  Colvin,  the  washerwoman,  was 
very  respectable ;  so  were  Mrs.  Howard,  the  tailor- 
ess,  Mr.  Brown,  the  lumper,  and  Mr.  Sneed,  the 
mason. 

Katy's  mother  lived  in  a  small  house,  with  throe 
other  families.  She  occupied  two  rooms,  for  which 


36  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

she  paid  four  dollars  a  month,  the  amount  of  rent 
now  due  and  unpaid.  Dr.  Flynch  took  a  great  deal 
of  pleasure  in  telling  Mrs.  Redburn  how  his  human 
ity  and  his  regard  for  the  welfare  of  the  poor  had 
induced  him  to  fix  the  rent  at  so  cheap  a  rate  ;  but 
ho  always  finished  by  assuring  her  that  this  sum  must 
be  promptly  paid,  and  that  no  excuses  could  ever 
have  any  weight. 

The  next  house  to  Mrs.  Redburn  was  tenanted  by 
Mr.  Sneed,  the  mason.  I  don't  know  whether  I 
ought  to  say  that  Mr.  Sneed  had  a  son,  or  that  M&s- 
ter  Simon  Sneed  had  a  father,  being  at  a  loss  to  de 
termine  which  was  the  more  important  personage  ol 
the  two  ;  but  I  am  not  going  to  say  any  thing  against 
either  of  them,  for  the  father  was  a  very  honest  ma 
son,  and  the  son  was  a  very  nice  young  man. 

Katy  knocked  at  the  door  of  this  house,  and  in 
quired  for  Master  Simon  Sneed.  She  was  informed 
that  he  had  not  yet  finished  his  dinner  ;  and  she 
decided  to  wait  in  the  court  till  he  made  his  ap 
pearance.  Seating  herself  on  the  door  stone,  she 
permitted  her  mind  to  wander  buck  to  the  narra 
tive  her  mother  had  related  to  her.  She  glanced  at 


THE  FOHTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.      37 

her  coarse  clothes,  and  could  hardly  believe  that  her 
grandfather  wis  a  rich  merchant,  and  lived  in  a  fine 
house.  How  nice  it  would  be  if  she  could  only  find 
the  old  gentleman !  He  could  not  be  cross  to  her  ; 
he  would  give  her  all  the  money  she  could  spend, 
and  make  a  great  lady  of  her. 

'•  Pooh !  what  a  fool  I  am  to  think  of  such  a 
thing  !  "  exclaimed  she,  impatiently,  as  she  rose  from 
the  door  stone.  "I  am  a  beggar,  and  w£at  right 
have  I  to  think  of  being  a  fine  lady,  while  my  poor 
sick  mother  has  nothing  to  eat  and  drink  ?  It  is  very 
hard  to  be  so  poor,  but  I  suppose  it  is  all  for  the 
best." 

"  Do  you  want  me,  Katy  ?  "  said  a  voice  from  the 
door,  which  Katy  recognized  as  that  of  Master  Simon 
Sneed. 

"  I  want  to  see  you  very  much,"  replied  Katy. 
"  Wait  a  moment,  and  I  will  join  you." 
And  in  a  moment  Master  Simon  Sneed  did  join 
her ;  but  he  is  so  much  of  a  curiosity,  and  so  much 
of  a  character,  that  I  must  stop  to  tell  my  young 
readers  all  about  him. 

Master  Simon  Sneed  was  abi  ut  fifteen  years  old, 
4 


38  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

and  call  enough  to  have  been  two  years  older.  He 
was  very  slim,  and  held  his  head  up  very  straigb*. 
In  1843,  the  period  of  which  I  write,  it  was  the 
fashion  for  gentlemen  to  wear  straps  upon  their 
pantaloons  ;  and  accordingly  Master  Simon  Sneed 
wore  straps  on  his  pantaloons,  though,  it  is  true,  the 
boys  in  the  streets  used  to  laugh  and  hoot  at  him 
for  doing  so  ;  but  they  were  very  ill-mannered  boys, 
and  coul£  not  appreciate  the  dignity  of  him  they 
insulted. 

Master  Sneed's  garments  were  not  of  the  finest 
materials,  and  though  he  was  a  juvenile  dandy,  it 
was  evident  that  it  required  a  great  deal  of  personal 
abor  to  make  him  such.  Clearly  those  straps  were 
sewed  on  by  himself,  and  clearly  those  cowhide  shoes 
had  been  thus  elaborately  polished  by  no  other  hands 
than  his  own.  In  a  word,  the  appearance  of  his 
clothes,  coarse  as  was  their  texture,  and  unfashion 
able  as  was  their  cut,  indicated  the  most  scrupulous 
care.  It  was  plain  that  he  had  a  fondness  for  dress, 
which  his  circumstances  did  not  permit  him  to  in 
dulge  to  any  very  great  extent. 

Master  Simon   IE  need  was  a  great  man  in  his  own 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN. 

estimation  ;  and,  as  he  had  read  a  great  many  excit 
ing  novels,  and  had  a  good  command  of  language,  he 
talked  and  acted  like  a  great  man.  He  could  hold 
his  own  in  conversation  with  older  and  wiser  persons 
than  himself.  He  could  astonish  almost  any  person 
of  moderate  pretensions  by  the  largeness  of  his  ideas  ; 
and,  of  late  years,  his  father  had  not  pretended  to 
hold  an  argument  with  him,  for  Simon  always  over- 
whelmed  him  by  the  force  and  elegance  of  his  rheto 
ric.  He  spoke  familiarly  of  great  men  and  great 
events. 

His  business  relations  —  for  Master  Sneed  was  a 
business  man  —  were  not  very  complicated.  Accord 
ing  to  his  own  reckoning,  he  was  the  chief  person  in 
the  employ  of  Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.,  wholesale  and 
retail  dry  goods,  Washington  Street ;  one  who  had 
rendered  immense  service  to  the  firm,  and  one  with 
out  whom  the  firm  could  not  possibly  get  along  a 
'  single  day  ;  in  short,  a  sort  of  Atlas,  on  whose  broad 
shoulders  the  vast  world  of  the  Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.'s 
affairs  rested.  But  according  to  the  reckoning  of  the 
firm,  and  the  general  understanding  of  people,  Master 
Simon  was  a  bov  io  ^  'tore,  whose  duty  it  was  to 


10  POOR    AX1)    PROUD,    OR 

make  fires,  sweep  out,  and  carry  bundles,  and,  in  con 
sideration  of  the  fact  that  he  boarded  himself,  to 
receive  two  dollars  and  a  half  a  week  for  his  ser 
vices.  There  was  a  vast  difference  between  Mastei 
Simon  Sneed's  estimate  of  Master  Simon  Sneed, 
and  the  Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.'s  idea  of  Master  Simon 
Sneed. 

But  I  beg  my  young  friends  not  to  let  any  thing  T 
have  written  create  a  prejudice  against  him,  for  ho. 
was  really  a  very  kind-hearted  young  man,  and  under 
certain  circumstances  would  have  gone  a  great  way 
to  oblige  a  friend.  He  had  always  been  exceedingly 
well  disposed  towards  Katy ;  perhaps  it  was  because 
the  simple-hearted  little  girl  used  to  be  so  much  as 
tonished  when  he  told  her  about  his  mercantile  rela 
tions  with  the  firm  of  Sands  &  Co. ;  how  he  managed 
all  their  business  for  them  after  the  store  was  closed 
at  night,  and  before  the  front  door  was  unlocked  in 
the  morning  ;  how  he  went  to  the  bank  after  im 
mense  sums  of  money  ;  and  how  the  firm  woidd  have 
to  give  up  business  if  he  should  die,  or  be  obliged  tc 
[cave  them.  Katy  believed  that  Master  Simon  was 
a  gr^at  man,  and  she  wondered  how  hi? 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.      41 

arms  could  accomplish  so  much  labor,  and  how  his 
small  head  could  hold  such  a  heap  of  magnificent 
ideas.  But  Master  Simon,  notwithstanding  his  ele 
vated  position  in  the  firm,  was  condescending  to  her ; 
lie  had  more  than  once  done  her  a  favor,  and  had  al 
ways  expressed  a  lively  interest  in  her  welfare. 
Therefore  she  did  not  scruple  to  apply  to  him  in  the 
present  emergency. 

"  Well,  Katy,  in  what  manner  can  I  serve  you  ?  '' 
inquired  Simon,  as  he  elevated  his  head,  and  stjod 
picking  his  teeth  before  her. 

"  I  want  you  to  do  something  for  me  very  much 
indeed." 

"  State  your  business,  Katy." 

"  Dr.  Flynch  has  been  to  our  house  to-day,  and 
wants  the  rent ;  mother  hasn't  any  money " 

"  And  you  wish  me  to  lend  you  the  amount  ?  "  con 
tinued  Simon,  when  Katy  hesitated  to  reveal  the  fam 
ily  trouble.  "  It  is  really  unfortunate,  Katy  ;  it  is 
after  bank  hours  now,  and  I  don't  see  that  I  c*.  i  ac 
commodate  you." 

*'  O,  I  don't  want  to  borrow  the  money." 

*'  Ah,  you  don't." 
4* 


42  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  have  got  a  watch  here,  which  belonged  to  my 
father  ;  and  I  want  to  pawn  it  for  the  money  to  pay 
the  rent." 

"  Well,  it  is  rather  out  of  our  line  of  business  to 
lend  money  on  collateral." 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  lend  it.  I  want  to  take  it 
to  the  pawnbroker's.  Mother  says  I  am  so  young 
and  so  small  that  they  might  cheat  me  ;  and  I  thought, 
perhaps,  may  be,  you'd  be  so  kind  as  to  go  with  me." 

"Go  with  you!"  exclaimed  Master  Simon,  as  he 
eyeil  her  coarse,  ill-made  garments. 

"  I  thought  you  would,"  replied  Katy,  with  a  lock 
of  disappointment. 

"  Well,  Katy,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  assist  you  in 
this  matter,  but " 

Master  Simon  paused,  and  glanced  again  at  the  un 
fashionable  dress  of  the  suppliant.  He  was,  as  he 
said,  willing  to  aid  her  ;  but  the  idea  of  the  principal 
personage  of  the  house  of  Sands  &  Co.  walking 
through  the  streets  of  the  great  city  with  such  an  ill- 
dressed  young  lady  was  absurd,  and  not  to  be  toler 
ated.  Master  Sneed  reflected.  It  is  undoubtedly 
that  "  where  there  is  a  v  ill  there  is  a  way." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      43 

41  Where  do  you  wish  to  go  ?  "  demanded  he. 

"I  don't  know." 

**  Do  you  know  where  Brattle  Street  is  ?  " 

"  I  don't,  but  I  can  find  it." 

"  Very  well ;  important  business  in  another  street 
requires  my  personal  attention  for  a  moment ,  but  I 
will  join  you  in  Brattle  Street  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  attend  you  to  a  pawnbroker's. " 

"  Thank  you." 

Master  Sneed  gave  her  directions  so  that  she  could 
find  the  street,  and  at  the  end  of  the  court,  as  she 
turned  one  way,  he  turned  the  other. 

Katy  was  first  at  the  appointed  place  of  meeting, 
where  Simon  soon  joined  her  ;  and  directing  her  to 
follow  him,  he  led  the  way  into  another  street,  and 
entered  a  shop. 

"  This  young  person  wishes  to  raise  some  money 
on  a  watch,"  said  Simon,  as  he  directed  the  attention 
of  the  astonished  broker  to  Katy,  who  was  scarcely 
tall  enough  to  be  seen  over  the  high  counter. 

"  Let  me  see  it." 

Katy  handed  up  the  watch,  which  the  money  lendei 
opened  and  carefully  examined.  His  practised  eye 


44  POOR    A!VD    PROUD,    OK 

aoon  discovered  that  the  works  of  the  watch  were  of 
the  best  quality. 

**  Where  did  you  get  this  ?  "  asked  the  broker. 

"•  My  mother  gave  it  to  me  ;  "  and  Katy  told  with 
out  reserve  the  pitiful  story  of  want  and  destitutiuu 
which  compelled  Mrs.  Redburn  to  part  with  the  cher 
ished  memento  of  the  past. 

"  I  will  give  you  three  dollars  for  the  watch," 
added  the  broker. 

"•  Come,  come,  sir,"  interposed  Master  Simon,  with 
a  smile  ;  "  that  is  a  little  too  bad.  A  gentleman  of 
your  judgment  and  discretion  has  already  assured 
himself  that  the  irticle  is  worth  at  least  twenty." 

The  broker  drew  a  long  breath  after  this  speech, 
and  seemed  very  much  impressed  by  the  style  of  the, 
remark.  But  Katy  declared  she  did  not  want  to  scli 
the  watch,  only  to  pawn  it. 

"  Your  story  is  not  a  very  plausible  one,"  said  the 
broker,  "  and  there  is  some  risk  in  taking  it." 

"  I  give  you  my  personal  assurance,  on  honor,  that 
her  story  is  all  true,"  added  Simon. 

The  broker  burst  out  into  a  loud  laugh.  He 
3onld  not  stand  Simon's  fine  speeches,  and  would 


TIJF     FORTUNES    OF    KA.TT    REDBDRN.  45 

not  take  the  watch  at  any  rate  ;   BO  they  departed  to 
find  another  place,  and  entered  a  shop  close  by. 

"  Where  did  you  get  this  ? "  asked  the  broker, 
sourly  ;  and  Katy  repeated  hei  story,  and  Simon 
vouched  for  its  truth. 

"  It  is  all  a  lie  !  "  exclaimed  the  broker.  "  I  will 
put  the  watch  into  my  safe,  and  hand  it  over  to  the 
police." 

"  This  is  a  most  extraordinary  proceeding,"  pro 
tested  Master  Simon. 

"  Get  out  of  the  shop,  both  of  you,  or  I  will  hand 
you  over  to  the  police  !  You  stole  the  watch,  and 
have  the  audacity  to  bring  it  into  the  shop  of  an 
honest  man.  I  don't  buy  stolen  goods." 

Katy  began  to  cry,  as  the  last  hope  of  redemption 
from  the  fangs  of  Dr.  Flynch  fled.  Even  Master 
Simon  Sneed  was  alarmed  at  the  idea  of  being  handed 
over  to  the  police  ;  but  his  sense  of  dignity  compelled 
him  to  enter  his  earnest  protest  against  the  proceed 
ing  of  the  broker,  and  even  to  threaten  him  with  the 
terrors  of  the  law.  The  money  lender  repeated  hi^ 
menace,  and  even  went  to  the  door,  for  the  apparent 
purpose  of  putting  it  in  execution. 


46  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  Come,  Katy,  let  us  go  ;  but  I  assure  you  1  will 
represent  this  outrage  to  my  friend  the  mayor,  in 
such  a  manner  that  entire  justice  shall  be  done  you," 
whispered  Simon.  "  I  cannot  remain  any  longer 
away  from  my  business,  or  I  would  recover  the  watch 
at  once." 

"  O,  dear  !  my  poor  mother  !  "  sobbed  Katy. 

"  Don't  cry,  my  child  ;  leave  it  all  to  me,  and  run 
home  as  fast  as  you  can.  You  shall  have  the  watch 
again,  for  I  will  call  in  the  whole  police  force  of  Bos 
ton  to  your  aid  ; "  and  Master  Simon  ran  away  to 
attend  to  the  affairs  of  Sands  &  Co.,  which  Katy 
innocently  concluded  must  be  suffering  by  this  time 
from  his  absence. 

Poor  Katy !  with  a  heavy  heart  she  wandered 
home  to  tell  her  mother  of  this  new  misfort  me. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      47 


CHAPTER    IV. 

XATY    MATURES    A    MAGNIFICENT    SCHEME. 

•'  I  SUPPOSE  it  is  all  for  the  best,  mother,"  said 
Katy,  when  she  had  told  her  sad  story  of  disappoint 
ment.  "  I  can't  get  those  words  out  of  my  head, 
since  you  have  told  me  about  my  father.  I  feel  jusl 
as  though  every  thing  would  come  out  right,  if  it 
does  go  very  bad  just  now." 

"  I  am  glad  you  feel  so,  Katy,"  added  Mrs.  Red- 
burn.  "  It  will  make  you  much  better  contented 
with  your  lot.  I  have  suffered  so  much  that  I  can 
not  help  repining  a  little,  though  I  feel  that  my  des 
tiny  and  yours  is  in  the  hands  of  the  wise  Father, 
who  bringeth  good  out  of  evil." 

Katy  had  not  yet  reached  that  spirit  of  meek  sub 
mission  to  the  will  of  Heaven  which  looks  upward 
in  the  hour  of  trial,  not  doubting  that  the  all- wise 
God  knows  best  what  is  for  the  good  of  his  children. 


4S  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

* 

If  she  believed  that  misfortunes  were  all  for  the  best, 
it  was  only  an  impulse  derived  from  the  story  of  hei 
father  ;  a  kind  of  philosophy  which  was  very  con 
venient  for  the  evil  day,  because  it  permitted  the 
sulferer  to  lie  down  and  take  things  easily.  It  was 
not  a  filial  trust  in  the  wisdom  and  mercy  of  the 
heavenly  Father  that  sustained  her  as  the  clouds 
grew  thicker  and  blacker  around  her  ;  it  was  only  a 
cold  indifference,  a  feeling  of  the  head  rather  than 
the  heart. 

But  Mrs.  Redburn  had  been  reading  the  New  Tes 
tament  during  Katy's  absence,  and  a  better  and 
purer  spirit  pervaded  her  soul  than  when  the  weight 
of  the  blow  first  struck  so  heavily  upon  her.  She 
was  well  educated,  and  capable  of  reasoning  in  a  j  ust 
manner  over  her  misfortunes  ;  and  those  words  on 
the  watch  seemed  to  convey  a  new  meaning  to  her,  ae 
she  considered  them  in  the  light  of  Christian  revela 
tion.  They  were  not  the  basis  of  a  cold  philosophy ; 
they  assured  her  of  the  paternal  care  of  God.  The 
thought  strengthened  and  revived  her,  and  when 
Katy  appeared  to  announce  a  new  trial,  she  received 
the  intelligence  with  calmness,  and  felt  more  ready 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      49 

than  ever  before  to  leave  her  destiny  in  the  hands  of 
Heaven.  For  an  hour  she  conversed  with  Katy  on 
this  subject,  and  succeeded  in  giving  her  some  new 
views  in  relation  to  the  meaning  of  the  words  she  had 
so  often  repeated  that  afternoon. 

The  poor  girl  felt  as  she  had  never  felt  before 
Upon  her  devolved  the  responsibility  of  providing  for 
her  mother.  She  had  no  other  friend,  and  that  day 
seemed  to  open  a  new  era  in  her  existence.  She  felt 
strong  for  the  work  before  her.  and  resolved  to  lose 
not  a  single  day  in  putting  her  resolution  into  opera 
tion.  The  teachings  of  her  mother,  breathing  a 
spirit  of  piety  and  resignation,  were  grateful  to  her 
heart,  and  added  new  strength  to  her  arm. 

There  was  still  food  enough  in  the  house  lor 
Katy's  supper,  for  her  mother  couid  not  eat,  though 
she  drank  a  cup  of  tea.  The  morning  sun  would 
shine  upon  them  again,  bringing  another  day  of  want 
and  wretchedness  ;  but  the  poor  girl  banished  her 
fears,  trusting  for  the  morrow  to  Him  who  feedeth 
the  hungry  raven,  and  tempereth  the  wind  to  the 
shorn  lamb. 

She  laid  her  head  upon  her  pillow  that  night,  not 


50  POOR    A.ND    PROUD,    OK 

to  sleep  foi  many  a  weary  hour,  but  to  think  of  the 
future  ;  not  of  its  sorrows  and  treasured  ills,  but  of 
the  golden  opportunities  it  would  afford  her  to  do 
something  for  her  sick  mother.  At  one  o'clock  the 
next  day  Dr.  Flynch  would  come  for  the  rent  again, 
and  her  mother  could  not  pay  him.  She  felt  assuicd 
lie  was  cold  and  cruel  enough  to  execute  his  wicked 
threat  to  turn  them  out  of  the  house,  though  her 
mother  had  not  been  off  her  bed  for  many  weeks. 
What  could  be  done  ?  They  could  not  pay  the  rent ; 
that  was  impossible  ;  and  she  regarded  it  as  just  as 
impossible  to  melt  the  heart  of  Dr.  Flynch.  Lut 
long  before  she  went  to  sleep  she  had  decided  what 
to  do. 

Worn  out  with  fatigue  and  anxiety,  she  'did  not 
wake  till  a  late  hour  ;  and  her  mother,  who  had  kept 
a  weary  vigil  all  night,  was  glad  to  see  her  sleep  so 
well,  and  did  not  arouse  her.  She  was  refreshed  by 
her  deep  slumbers,  and  got  up  feeling  like  a  new 
creature.  She  had  scarcely  made  a  fire  and  put  on 
the  tea-kettle,  before  a  knock  at  the  door  startled  her. 
Who  could  wish  to  sec  them  in  their  poverty  and 
want  ?  —  who  but  some  evil  person,  coming  to  heap 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBUBtf.  51 

«ome  new  grief  upon  them  ?  She  scarcely  had  tl>« 
courage  to  open  the  door ;  but  when  she  did  so,  she 
saw  the  smiling  face  of  Tommy  Howard. 

"  Good  morning,  Katy,"  said  he,  as  he  handed  her 
a  little  basket  he  had  brought.  "  Mother  sent  this 
over,  and  wants  to  know  how  Mrs.  Redburn  does 
to-day." 

"  She  is  about  the  same.  What  is  in  this  basket 
Tommy  ? " 

"  O,  you  know  ;  "  and  he  turned  to  run  away. 

"  Stop  a  minute,  Tommy,"  called  Katy.  "  I  want 
to  speak  to  you." 

"  Well,  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  You  haven't  told  any  body  about  it  —  have  you  ?  " 

"  About  what  ?  " 

"  What  I  told  you  yesterday,"  replied  Katy,  hang 
ing  her  head  with  shame. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That  we  had  nothing  to  eat ;  "  and  Katy  blushed 
as  though  it  was  a  crime  to  be  hungry  and  have 
nothing  to  eat. 

"Not  a  soul  —  catch  me!  that  is,  I  hain't  told 
nobody  but  mother." 


52  POOK    AND    PROUD,    OH 

"I  am  sorry  you  did,  even  her.  My  mother  is 
very  proud,  if  she  is  poor  ;  but  she  wasn't  always  so 
poor  as  she  is  now,  for  she  is  the  daughter  of  a  rich 
merchant." 

"  You  don't  say  so." 

"  Yes,  I  do,  Tommy ;  so  please  don't  say  a  word 
about  it  to  any  body  but  your  mother,  and  ask  her 
not  to  mention  it." 

"Not  a  word,  Katy;  mother  won't  say  a  word 
either." 

"  And  some  time  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it.  Thank 
you  for  what's  in  the  basket,  Tommy." 

Without  waiting  for  any  thing  more,  the  noble, 
generous  boy  leaped  down  the  stairs  and  passed  out 
at  the  front  door. 

"  What  have  you  got  there,  Katy  ?  "  asked  Mrs 
Redburn,  as  she  entered  the  room  with  the  basket  in 
her  hand. 

"  Something  Mrs.  Howard  sent  us,"  she  replied, 
as  she  opened  the  basket,  and  took  out  a  plate  o' 
butter  and  half  a  dozen  hot  biscuit,  which  she  carried 
to  the  bedside  for  her  mother's  inspection. 

"  What  have  you  done,  my  child  ?  "  exclaimed  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      53 

poor  woman,  a  flush  gathering  on  her  pale  cheefc. 
"  Have  you  told  the  neighbors  that  we  have  nothing 
to  eat  ?  " 

"  I  couldn't  help  telling  Tommy  when  I  asked  for 
the  flounders  yesterday  ;  he  told  his  mother,  but  no 
one  else  knows  it." 

"  I  had  rather  starve  than  beg,  Katy  ;  but  I  cannot 
compel  you  to  do  so." 

"  I  will  not  beg." 

**  Then  let  us  send  those  cakes  back." 

"•  No,  mother  ;  we  must  not  be  so  proud  as  that. 
1  think  that  God  sent  us  this  food,  through  Mrs. 
Howard,  and  it  would  be  wicked  to  reject  his 
bounty." 

"  Do  as  you  please,  Katy." 

"  Some  time  we  shall  be  able  to  pay  her ;  and  that 
\iill  make  it  all  right." 

Mrs.  Redburn  could  not  taste  the  biscuit,  but  Katy 
ate  heartily.  Her  pride  was  not  inflated  by  the  re 
membrance  of  brighter  days.  All  she  had  was  inher 
ited  from  her  mother. 

After  breakfast  she  put  on  her  bonnet  anl  left  the 
house,  assuring  her  mother  she  should  be  back  by 
o* 


H  POOR    AXD    TROU1),    OK 

twelve  o'clock.  She  would  not  tell  her  where  aha 
was  going,  but  evaded  her  questions,  and  got  away 
as  soon  as  she  could. 

As  she  passed  down  Washington  Street,  she  stopped 
before  the  store  of  Sands  &  Co.,  for  she  wanted  to 
see  Master  Simon  Snecd.  She  did  not  like  to  enter 
the  store ;  so  she  waited  on  the  sidewalk  for  half  an 
hour,  hoping  he  would  come  out.  As  he  did  not 
appear,  her  impatience  would  not  permit  her  to  lose 
any  more  time,  and  she  timidly  opened  the  door,  and 
inquired  of  the  first  salesman  she  saw  if  Mister  Sneed 
was  in. 

"  Mister  Sneed  !  "  laughed  the  clerk.  "  Here,  Si 
mon,  is  one  of  your  friends.  Wait  upon  her." 

Simon,  with  a  flushed  cheek,  came  to  the  door. 
He  was  horrified  at  the  insinuation  of  the  salesman 
and  wished  Katy  had  been  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ocean  before  she  had  come  there  to  scandalize  him  ;  y 
claiming  his  acquaintance. 

**  What  do  you  want  now  ? "  he  demanded,  rather 
rudely.  "  Is  it  not  enough  that  I  am  willing  to  help 
you,  without  your  coming  here  to  bring  me  into  con 
tempt  \vith  my  associates  ?  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      55 

"  I  didn't  think  there  was  any  harm  in  it.  I 
waited  outside  for  half  an  hour,  and  you  didn't  come 
out.1' 

44 1  can't  leave  the  affairs  of  this  firm  to  attend  to 

every  little "  and  Master  Simon's  naturally  good 

ueart  prevented  him  from  uttering  the  unkind  words 
-hat  had  been  on  his  tongue.  "  1  suppose  you  come 
o  know  about  the  watch.  I  haven't  had  time  to 
.•all  upon  the  mayor  yet,  but  I  will  do  so  at  dinner 
time." 

44 1  only  wanted  to  ask  you  if  you  know  where 
Mrs.  Gordon  lives,"  replied  Katy,  very  sad  at  the 
thought  of  the  mischief  she  had  done. 

44  She  lives  in  Temple  Street,  over  back  of  the  State 
House.  What  do  you  want  of  her  ?  " 

44 1  want  to  see  her.  Do  you  suppose  you  can  get 
that  watch  back  :  " 

44  I'm  certain  I  can.  When  my  friend  the  mayor 
hears  my  story,  you  may  depend  upon  it  he  will  get 
the  watch,  or  upset  all  the  pawnbrokers'  shops  in 
the  city." 

44  Are  you  acquainted  with  the  mayor  ? "  asked 
Katy,  timidly,  for,  since  the  adventure  of  the  previous 


5<5  POOIl    AND    PROUD,    OK 

day,  she  had  entertained  some  slight  doubts  in  re 
gard  to  the  transcendent  abilities  of  Master  Siuiv,n 
Snced. 

kt  Certainly  I  am.  It  was  only  last  week  that  I  had 
a  long  and  extremely  interesting  conversation  with 
his  honor  on  the  sidewalk  here  before  the  store." 

Katy  was  satisfied,  though  Simon  did  not  offer  to 
introduce  her  to  his  distinguished  friend.  How  could 
she  help  being  satisfied  in  the  face  of  such  astound 
ing  evidence  ?  And  Simon's  declaration  was  true, 
for  whatever  faults  he  had,  he  never  made  up  a  story 
out  of  whole  cloth.  It  was  undeniably  true  that  he 
had  conversed  with  the  mayor  for  ten  full  minutes, 
at  the  time  and  place  represented.  Simon  had  been 
sent  out  to  hold  his  honor's  horse,  while  a  lady  with 
him  did  some  shopping  ;  but  his  honor  preferred  to 
hold  his  own  horse,  and  amused  himself  for  the  time 
in  listening  to  the  big  talk  of  the  nice  young  man. 

After  receiving  more  explicit  directions  in  regard 
to  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Gordon,  Katy  took  her  leave 
of  Simon.  Next  _ioor  to  Sands  &  Co.'s  was  the  store 
of  a  celebrated  confectioner.  In  the  window,  with 
eundry  sugar  temples,  cob  houses  of  braided  candy 


THE     FORTUNES    OF     K.AT1     REDBURN.  57 

und  stacks   of  cake,  was  a  great  heap  of  molassea 
candy  ;  and  as  Katy  paused  for  an  instant  to  gaze  a 
the  profusion  of  sweet  things,  a  great  thought  struck 
through  her  brain. 

"  Mother  used  to  make  molasses  candy  for  me, 
and  I  know  just  how  it  is  done,"  said  she  to  her 
self.  "  What  is  the  reason  I  can't  make  candy  and 
sell  it  ?  " 

She  walked  on  towards  School  Street,  up  which 
she  had  been  directed  to  turn,  full  of  this  idea.  She 
would  become  a  little  candy  merchant.  She  felt 
sure  she  could  find  purchasers  enough,  if  her  mer 
chandise  only  looked  clean  and  good.  It  was  a 
great  deal  better  than  begging,  and  she  thought  her 
mother  would  consent  to  her  making  and  selling  the 
candy.  What  a  glorious  idea  !  If  she  could  only 
make  money  enough  to  support  her  mother  and  her 
self,  how  happy  she  should  be  ! 

Full  of  enthusiasm  at  the  idea  of  accomplishing 
Buch  a  vast  project,  she  scarcely  heeded  the  crowds 
of  people  that  thronged  the  street  and  rudely  jos 
tled  her.  If  she  saw  them  at  all,  it  was  only  to 
regard  them  as  so  many  purchasers  of 


58  POOR    AND    PROUD,    On 

candy.  With  her  brain  almost  reeling  with  the 
immensity  and  magnificence  of  her  scheme,  she 
reached  Temple  Street.  After  a  little  search,  she 
found  the  number  of  Mrs.  Gordon's  residence  on  a 
splendid  house,  whose  grandness  quite  abashed  her. 
But  her  courage  revived  as  she  thought  of  the  pur 
pose  that  had  brought  her  there,  and  she  boldly 
rang  the  bell.  The  door  was  opened  by  a  servant 
man  in  a  white  jacket,  of  whom  she  inquired  if 
Mrs.  Gordon  was  at  home. 

"  Mrs.  Gordon  is  at  home,  but  we  don't  trouble 
her  at  the  call  of  a  beggar,"  replied  the  well-fed 
servant,  as  he  glanced  at  the  homely  apparel  of 
Katy. 

"  I  am  not  a  beggar,"  she  replied,  with  spirit,  her 
cheek  reddening  with  indignation  at  the  charge. 

"  You  can't  see  her  ;  so  go  about  your  business." 

"  Who  is  it,  Michael  ?  "  said  a  gentle  voice 
within. 

"  Only  a  beggar,  Miss  Grace  ;  she  wants  to  see 
Mrs.  Gordon,"  replied  the  man ;  and  then  a  beautiful 
young  lady  came  to  look  at  her. 

"  I  air.  not  a  beggar,  ma'am  ;  indeed   I  am  not.     I 


THE     FORTUNES    OF    TCATY    REDBURN.  59 

*ant  to  see  Mrs.  Gordon  very  much.     Please  to  lei 
me  speak  to  her." 

The  sweet,  pleading  tones  of  the  child  produced 
their  impression  on  the  beautiful  lady,  and  she  bade 
her  come  in.  Katy  entered,  and  Mijhael  told  her  to 
stand  in  the  entry  while  Miss  Grace  went  up  stairs 
to  call  Mrs.  Gordon. 


£0  POOR    AND    PROUD. 


CHAPTER    V. 

KATY    VISITS    MRS.    GORDON,    AND    GETS    BID    OP 
DR.    FLYNCH. 

KATY  gazed  with  wonder  and  admiration  at  the 
rich  furniture  of  the  house,  and  thought  that  perhaps 
her  grandfather  lived  in  as  good  style  as  Mrs.  Gor 
don,  and  that  she  might  some  day  go  to  Liverpool 
and  be  an  inmate  of  just  such  a  palace.  The  door 
of  the  sitting  room  was  open,  and  she  had  an  oppor 
tunity  to  look  at  all  the  fine  things  it  contained. 
She  had  never  seen  any  thing  so  luxurious  before 
and  I  must  say  that  she  regretted  the  poverty  oi 
her  lot,  which  deprived  her  mother  and  herself  of  , 
them. 

All  round  the  room  hung  pictures  in  costly  frames. 
Some  of  them  were  portraits ;  and  one  which  hung 
over  the  mantel-piece,  directly  before  her,  soon  at 
tracted  her  attention,  and  made  her  forget  the  soft 


THE  FOBTUNES  OF  KA1  f  EEDBURN.      61 

divans,  the  beautiful  carpet,  and  the  rich  draperies 
of  the  windows.  It  was  the  portrait  of  a  lady,  and 
her  expression  was  very  like  that  of  her  mother  —  so 
like  that  she  could  almost  believe  the  picture  had 
been  painted  for  her  mother.  Yet  that  could  not  be, 
for  the  lady  was  young,  and  plump,  and  rosy,  and 
wore  rich  laces,  and  a  costly  dress.  She  seemed  to 
look  down  upon  her  from  the  golden  frame  with  a 
smile  of  satisfaction.  There  was  something  roguish 
in  her  eye,  as  though  she  was  on  the  point  of  bursting 
into  a  laugh  at  some  mischief  she  had  perpetrated. 
O,  no  !  that  could  not  be  her  mother ;  she  had  never 
seen  her  look  like  that.  But  there  was  something 
that  seemed  very  much  like  her  ;  and  the  more  she 
looked  at  it,  the  more  the  picture  fascinated  her. 
She  tried  to  look  at  something  else,  but  the  lady 
appeared  to  have  fixed  her  gaze  upon  her,  and, 
which  ever  way  she  turned,  those  laughing  eyes  fol 
lowed  her,  and  brought  back  her  attention  to  the 
canvas  again. 

In  vain  she  attempted  to  fasten   her  mind  upon 
Borne  of  the  other  portraits.     There  was  an  elderly 
gentleman,  with  a  full  red  face ;  but  the  jealous  K  ly 
6 


62  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

would  not  let  her  look  at  him.  She  turned  round, 
and  looked  out  the  windows  at  the  side  of  the  door ; 
but  the  spell  of  the  lady  was  upon  her,  and  she  could 
not  resist  the  charm.  The  more  she  studied  the  por 
trait,  the  more  convinced  she  became  that  it  looked 
like  her  mother,  though  there  was  something  about 
it  which  was  as  unlike  her  as  any  thing  could  be. 

"  What  makes  you  keep  looking  at  me  ? "  said 
Katy  to  herself,  or  rather  to  the  lady  on  the  canvas. 
"  You  needn't  watch  me  so  closely ;  I  shall  not  steal 
any  thing." 

The  lady,  however,  insisted  on  watching  her,  and 
kept  her  roguish  glance  fixed  upon  her  with  a  stead 
iness  that  began  to  make  her  feel  nervous  and  un 
easy  ;  and  she  was  greatly  relieved  when  she  heard 
footsteps  on  the  stairs. 

'*  Mrs.  Gordon  will  be  down  in  a  moment,"  said 
Miss  Grace,  in  kind  tones.  "  Won't  you  come  into 
this  room  and  sit  down  ?  " 

Katy  thanked  her,  and  Grace  led  her  to  a  small 
chair  directly  under  the  mischievous-looking  lady  in 
the  frame  ;  and  she  felt  a  kind  of  satisfaction  in  being 
placed  out  of  her  sight.  But  it  seemed,  even  then, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      63 

as  she  cast  a  furtive  glance  upward,  that  those 
roguish  eyes  were  trying  to  peer  over  the  picture 
frame,  and  get  a  look  at  her. 

"  Well,  little  girl,  what  do  you  wish  with  me  ? " 
said  Mrs.  Gordon  a  benevolent-looking  lady,  appar 
ently  of  more  than  forty  years  of  age,  who  now  en 
tered  the  room. 

The  expression  of  her  countenance  was  very  pleas 
ant,  and  though  there  were  a  few  wrinkles  on  her 
brow,  and  she  wore  a  lace  cap,  Katy  came  to  the  con 
clusion  that  the  portrait  had  been  taken  for  her.  She 
wondered  if  such  a  dignified  lady  could  ever  have 
been  so  roguish  as  the  picture  indicated. 

"  Please,  ma'am,"  stammered  she,  rising  from  her 
chair,  "I  come  to  see  you  about  the  house  we 
live  in." 

44  What  is  your  name,  child  ?  " 
44  Katy  Redbuin,  ma'am." 
4'  In  what  house  do  you  live  ?  " 
44  In  one  of  yours  in  Colvin  Court.     Mother  is  a 
poor  woman,  and  has  been  sick  so  much  this  sum- 
tner  that  she  can't  pay  the  rent." 

44 1  am  very  sorry  for  you,  my  child,  but  I  refei 


64  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

you  to  my  agent,  Dr.  Flynch.  I  do  not  like  to  med 
dle  with  these  things,  as  I  have  given  him  the  whole 
care  of  my  houses.  You  will  find  him  a  very  good 
man,  and  one  who  will  be  willing  to  consider  your 
case.  He  will  extend  to  you  all  the  lenity  your  case 
requires." 

"  We  have  told  Dr.  Flynch  all  about  it,  ma'am ; 
and  he  says  if  the  rent  is  not  paid  by  one  o'clock  to 
day,  he  shall  turn  us  out  of  the  house." 

"  Indeed  ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Gordon  ;  and  Grace 
actually  jumped  out  of  her  chair  with  astonishment 
and  indignation. 

"  Yes,  ma'am ;  that's  just  what  he  said,"  added 
Katy,  satisfied  with  the  impression  she  had  produced. 

"  Is  your  mother  ill  now  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  Yes,  ma'am ;  she  has  not  been  off  her  bed  for 
twelve  weeks." 

"  What  does  Dr.  Flynch  say,  my  child  ?  " 

"  He  says  my  mother  deceived  him  ;  that  she  told 
mm  a  falsehood  ;  and  that  she  had  money,  when  she 
didn't  have  a  cent." 

"  It  is  too  bad,  mother  !  "  exclaimed  Grace. 

"Hush,  Grace;  probably  Dr.  Flynch  knows  beet 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN  6ft 

for  he  certainly  would  not  turn  a  poor  sick  woman 
out  of  doors  because  she  did  not  pay  the  rent.  There 
may  be,  as  he  says,  some  deception  about  it,  which 
he  can  penetrate  and  we  cannot." 

"  There  is  no  deception  about  it,  ma'am,"  pleaded 
Katy,  much  disturbed  by  this  sudden  damper  upon 
her  hopes.  **  She  has  not  got  a  single  cent.  She 
wouldn't  tell  a  lie,  and  I  wouldn't  either." 

There  was  some  tiling  in  the  eloquence  and  earnest 
ness  of  the  child  that  deeply  impressed  the  mind  of 
the  lady,  and  she  could  hardly  resist  the  conclusion 
that  her  agent  had,  in  this  instance,  made  a  mistake. 
But  she  had  great  confidence  in  Dr.  Flynch,  and  she 
was  very  unwilling  to  believe  that  he  could  be  so 
harsh  and  cruel  as  the  little  girl  represented.  She 
had  heard  of  the  tricks  of  the  vicious  poor,  and  while 
she  was  disposed  to  be  very  tender  of  a  needy  tenant, 
she  must  be  just  to  her  agent. 

"  It  is  now  half  past  ten,"  continued  Mrs.  Gordon. 
"  You  shall  remain  here,  my  child,  and  I  will  send 
Michael  down  to  Colvin  Court  to  inquire  into  the 
situation  of  your  mother.  He  must  be  impartial,  fol 
he  knows  nothing  about  the  case." 
6* 


66  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 

'*  Thank  you,  ma'am,"  said  Katy,  with  a  prompt 
ness  which  assured  Grace,  if  not  her  mother,  that  the 
little  girl  was  honest. 

Mrs.  Gordon  rang  the  bell,  and  when  Michael 
answered  the  summons,  she  attended  him  to  the 
street  door,  where  she  instructed  him  to  call  upon 
Mrs.  Redburn,  and  also  to  inquire  of  the  grocer  at 
the  corner,  and  of  her  neighbors,  what  sort  of  a  per 
son  she  was.  The  lady  returned  to  the  sitting  room 
when  he  had  gone,  and  asked  Katy  a  great  many 
questions  about  herself  and  her  mother,  and  thus 
nearly  an  hour  was  consumed ;  at  the  end  of  which 
time  Michael  returned.  Katy  had  answered  all  the 
lady's  questions  so  fairly,  though  without  betraying 
her  family  history,  which  her  mother  had  cautioned 
her  to  keep  to  herself,  that  she  was  prepared  to  receive 
a  favorable  report  from  her  man. 

"Well,  Michael,  did  you  find  the  woman  at 
home  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Gordon,  as  the  man  presented 
himself. 

"  Indeed,  I  did,  marm." 

"  What  was  she  doing  ?  " 

"  She  was  fast  in  bed,  and  told  me  she  hadn't 
been  out  of  it  for  twelve  weeks  come  Saturday." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      67 

"  What  does  the  grocer  say  ?  " 

"  He  says  she  is  a  very  good  woman,  but  poor  and 
proud.  She  always  paid  him  every  cent  she  owed 
him,  and  he'd  trust  her  for  half  he  has  in  his 
shop." 

"  That  will  do,  Michael ;  you  may  go  ;  "  and  the 
man  retired  with  a  respectful  bow. 

Katy's  face  wore  a  smile  of  triumph,  as  MicLael 
was  dismissed.  Her  mother's  truthfulness  had  been 
vindicated,  and  it  was  the  proudest  moment  she  had 
known  for  many  a  day. 

"  How  long  has  your  mother  lived  in  my  house  ?  " 
asked  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  About  three  years,  ma'am  ;  and  she  always  paid 
her  rent  till  this  month,"  replied  Katy. 

"  If  she  had  not,  Dr.  Flynch  would  have  turned 
her  into  the  street,"  added  Grace  ;  and  it  was  evident 
the  beautiful  young  lady  had  no  special  regard  for 
that  worthy  gentleman. 

"  We  have  tried  hard  enough  to  pay  the  rent  this 
month,"  continued  Katy ;  and  she  proceeded  to  tell 
the  story  of  the  silver  watch,  that  had  belonged  tc 
her  father. 


68  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

,  "This  is  dreadful,  mother;  let  us  do  something 
about  it,"  said  Grace.  "  What  a  wretch  the  broker 
must  have  been  !  " 

"  We  will  endeavor  to  get  the  watch  back  for  her," 
replied  Mrs.  Gordon,  as  she  seated  herself  at  a  table 
and  wrote  a  few  lines  on  a  piece  of  paper.  "  Here, 
my  child,  is  a  receipt  for  your  month's  rent.  When 
Dr.  Flynch  comes  for  the  money,  you  show  him  this, 
and  he  will  be  satisfied  ; "  and  she  handed  her  the 
receipt. 

Katy  took  it,  and  thanked  the  good  lady,  assuring 
her  that  her  mother  would  certainly  pay  the  money  as 
soon  as  she  got  well. 

"  My  mother  is  poor  and  proud,  just  as  the  grocer 
said,  and  she  don't  ask  any' one  to  give  her  any  thing. 
I  am  going  to  earn  some  money  myself,  and  I  hope 
I  shall  be  able  to  pay  the  next  month's  rent,"  added 
Katy,  as  she  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  But  the  watch,  mother  ?"  interposed  Grace. 
"  If  the  little  girl  will  come  here  this  afternoon  01 
to-morrow  morning,  we  will  take  her  to  the  mayor 
who  will  have  the  case  attended  to." 
"  I  will  come  any  time,  ma'am." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REPBURN      63 

"  The  mayor  is  my  friend,  and  I  will  :all  at  hia 
house  with  you  this  afternoon  at  three  o'clock." 

Katy  could  not  but  think  the  mayor  had  a  great 
many  friends,  for  there  was  Master  Simon  Sneed,  and 
Mrs.  Gordon,  and  she  knew  not  how  many  more. 
She  thanked  the  lady  very  warmly  for  her  kindness, 
and  promising  to  come  at  the  time  stated,  she  took 
her  leave.  She  was  followed  to  the  door  by  Grace, 
who  detained  her  there. 

"  Katy,  I  am  sure  you  are  a  very  good  little  girl, 
and  here  is  a  dollar  for  you.  It  will  buy  something 
good  for  your  mother." 

"  I  thank  you  very  much,  Miss  Gordon.  I  am 
poor,  but  proud,  like  my  mother,"  replied  she,  as  a 
flush  of  shame  mantled  her  cheek. 

"  What  a  foolish  little  girl  ! "  laughed  Grace. 
"  Take  it ;  you  will  oblige  me  very  much  by  tak 
ing  it." 

"  No,  ma'am,  I  can't  ^  my  mother  wouldn't  own 
me  if  I  should  take  money  as  a  gift." 

"  But  you  must  take  it,  Katy  ;  I  shall  be  angry  if 
you  don't." 

The   little   girl   looked   up   into   her  pretty  eyes, 


70  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

beaming  with  p'ty  and  love ;  and  she  could  hardly 
resist  the  temptation  to  oblige  her  by  accepting  (he 
gift ;  but  since  she  had  heard  the  story  of  her  moth 
er's  life,  she  understood  why  she  was  so  much  proudei 
than  other  poor  people  ;  and  as  she  thought  of  her 
grandfather  in  his  fine  house  in  the  great  city  of  Liv 
erpool,  she  felt  a  little  of  the  same  spirit  —  she  too 
was  poor  and  proud.  Besides,  as  Grace  jingled  the 
two  half  dollars  together,  there  was  a  harmony  in  the 
sound  that  suggested  a  great  heap  of  good  things  for 
her  mother.  And  there  was  another  powerful  consid 
eration  that  weighed  with  great  force  upon  her  mind. 
One  of  those  half  dollars  would  be  a  sufficient  cap 
ital  upon  which  to  commence  her  candy  speculation. 
It  would  buy  ever  so  much  molasses  of  the  very  best 
quality.  As  she  thought  of  this,  she  was  disposed,  at 
least,  to  compromise  with  Miss  Grace. 

"  I  cannot  accept  the  money  as  a  gift,  but  you  may 
lend  it  to  me,  if  you  please,"  said  Katy,  after  she  had 
reflected  a  moment. 

"  Just  as  you  like,"  laughed  Grace  ;  "  but  I  shalj 
aot  feel  bad  if  you  never  pay  me." 

"  I  shall  certainly  pay  it  again,"  persisted  the  em- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.      71 

bryo  candy  merchant.  "  I  would  not  take  it  if  1 
thought  I  could  not." 

•*  Very  well ;  but  you  must  know  I  think  you  are 
a  very  singular  little  girl." 

44 1  am  poor  and  proud  ;  that's  all." 

Katy  took  the  loan,  and  with  her  fancy  fired  with 
brilliant  expectations  in  regard  to  the  candy  opera 
tion,  ran  home  to  her  mother  as  fast  as  her  feet  would 
carry  her.  Mrs.  Redburn  was  much  displeased  with 
her  at  first  for  what  she  had  done.  Her  pride  re 
volted  at  the  thought  of  begging  a  favor ;  but  Katy 
explained  the  matter  so  well  that  she  was  satisfied, 
though  nothing  was  said  about  the  loan  she  had 
obtained. 

Punctually  at  the  appointed  hour  came  Dr.  Flynch 
for  the  rent. 

"  Have  you  got  the  money  ?  "  he  demanded  in  his 
usual  bland  tones,  though  Katy  thought  she  could 
see  a  wicked  purpose  in  his  little  gray  eye. 

"  No,  sir  ;  but " 

"That's  all  I  desire  to  know,  Mrs.  Redburn," 
interrupted  the  agent.  "  You  must  leave  the 
bouse." 


72  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  But,  sir,  I  have  something  that  will  do  as  well 
as  the  money,"  added  the  sick  woman. 

"  Have  you,  indeed  ?  "  sneered  Dr.  Flynch.  "  I 
think  not." 

"  Will  you  read  that,  sir  ?  "  said  Katy,  handing 
him  Mrs.  Gordon's  receipt. 

The  agent  took  the  paper,  and  as  he  read,  the 
wonted  serenity  of  his  brow  was  displaced  by  a  dark 
scowl.  His  threats  had  been  disregarded,  and  he 
had  been  reported  to  his  employer. 

"  So  you  have  been  fawning  and  cringing  upon 
Mrs.  Gordon,"  growled  he.  "  Probably  you  have 
told  her  more  lies  than  you  dared  tell  me." 

"  I  told  her  nothing  but  the  truth,  and  she  sent 
her  man  down  here  to  find  out  all  about  us,"  said 
Katy,  smartly. 

"  Very  well ;  this  paper  will  only  delay  the  mat 
ter  foi  a  few  days  ;  when  I  have  exposed  you  to  her, 
she  will  acquiesce  in  my  views  ; "  and  Dr.  Flynch 
threw  down  the  receipt  and  left  the  house. 

"  We  are  well  rid  of  him,  at  any  rate,"  said 
Katy.  "  Now  I  will  get  you  some  dinner,  for 
I  must  be  at  Mrs.  Gordon's  at  three  o'clock  ; 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      73 

and    T    want    to    tell    you     about    my    plan    too, 
mother  " 

The  active   little  girl  made  a  cup  of  tea  for  hei 
mother,  and  the  dinner  was  soon  despatched, 

7 


POOR    AND    PROUD.    OK 


CHAPTER    VI. 

KATY    PREPARES    A    STOCK    OF    MERCHANDISE. 

KATY  had  not  time  then  to  tell  her  mother  about 
the  candy  speculation  she  had  in  view,  and  she  was 
obliged  to  wait  till  her  return  from  Temple  Street. 
Promptly  at  the  hour,  she  presented  herself  at  Mrs. 
Gordon's,  and  they  went  to  the  house  of  the  mayor ; 
but  that  distinguished  gentleman  was  not  at  home, 
and  the  lady  promised  to  go  again  with  her  the 
next  day. 

As  she  walked  home,  she  thought  of  what  she 
should  say  to  her  mother  in  favor  of  the  candy  pro 
ject,  for  she  felt  sure  her  mother's  pride  would  throw 
many  obstacles  in  her  path.  The  best  argument  she 
could  think  of  was,  that  the  business  would  be  an 
honest  calling,  and  though  she  was  too  proud  to  beg, 
she  was  not  too  proud  to  work,  or  to  take  a  very 
humble  position  among  the  people  around  her.  She 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATT  REDBURN.      75 

did  not  look  upon  the  act  of  selling  candy  to  the 
passers-by  in  the  streets  as  degrading  in  itself,  and 
therein  she  differed  very  widely  from  her  mother, 
who  had  been  brought  up  in  ease  and  affluence.  Be 
fore  she  got  home  she  had  made  up  her  mind  what 
she  should  say,  and  how  she  should  defend  her  plan 
from  the  assaults  of  pride. 

"Now,  mother,  you  shall  hear  my  plan,"  she 
continued,  after  she  had  announced  the  ill  success 
of  her  visit  to  the  mayor's  house.  "  I  am  going 
into  business,  and  I  expect  to  make  a  great  deal  of 
money." 

"  Are  you,  indeed  ?  "  replied  Mrs.  Redburn,  smil 
ing  at  the  enthusiasm  of  her  daughter. 

tk  I  am  ;  and  you  must  not  be  angry  with  me,  or 
object  very  much  to  my  plan." 

"  Well,  what  is  your  plan  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  to  sell  candy,"  said  Katy,  pausing  to 
notice  the  effect  of  this  startling  declaration.  "  You 
know  what  nice  molasses  candy  you  used  to  make  for 
me.  Mrs.  Sneed  and  Mrs.  Colvin  said  a  great  many 
limes  that  it  was  a  good  deal  better  than  they  could 
buy  at  the  shops." 


76  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

**  But,  child,  I  am  not  able  to  make  candy  now.  I 
cannot  get  off  my  bed." 

*•  I  will  make  it ;  you  shall  lay  there  and  tell  me 
how  I  am  sure  I  can  make  it." 

"  It  is  very  hard  work  to  pull  it." 

•'  I  won't  mind  that." 

"  Suppose  you  can  make  it,  how  will  you  sell  it  ?  " 
asked  Mrs.  Redburn,  casting  an  anxious  glance  at  the 
enthusiastic  little  girl. 

"  O,  I  shall  take  a  box,  and  offer  it  to  the  folks 
that  pass  along  the  streets." 

*'  Are  you  crazy,  Katy  ?  "  exclaimed  the  mother, 
raising  her  head  on  the  bed.  "  Do  you  think  I  could 
permit  you  to  do  such  a  thing  ?  " 

"  Why  not,  mother  ?  " 

"  What  a  life  for  a  child  to  lead  ?  Do  you  think 
I  could  let  you  wander  about  the  streets  exposed  to 
the  insults  and  rude  jests  of  the  vicious  and  thought 
less  ?  You  do  not  understand  what  you  propose." 

"  I  think  I  do,  mother.  I  don't  see  any  harm  in 
selling  candy  to  those  who  are  willing  to  buy  " 

*•  Porhaps  there  is  no  harm  in  the  mere  act  of  sell 
ing  candy ;  but  what  a  life  for  you  to  lead !  It  make* 
me  shudder  to  think  of  it." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN.  < 1 

"  It  is  your  pride,  mother." 
"  I  am  thankful  I  have  some  pride  left,  Katy." 
"  But,  mother,  we  can't  be  poor  and  proud.     We 
haven't  got  any  money  to  be  proud  with." 

"  I  am  proud,  I  know  ;  I  wish  I  could  banish  it,'1 
replied  Mrs.  Rcdburn,  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Let  me  try  the  plan,  mother,  and  if  I  can't  get 
along  with  it,  I  will  give  it  up." 

"  It  will  subject  you  to  a  great  many  trials  and 
temptations." 

"  I  can  manage  them,  mother." 
"  Can  you  submit  to   the  insults  of  evil-minded 
persons  ?  " 

•'  Yes,  mother  ;  no  decent  person  would  insult  me, 
and  I  don't  care  for  others.  I  can  pity  them,  and 
run  away  from  them.  I  am  not  afraid  of  any  thing 
Do  let  me  try." 

Mrs.  Redburn  saw  that  Katy  was  too  earnest  to  be 
thwarted  ;  that,  impelled  by  a  noble  purpose,  she  had 
set  her  heart  upon  making  the  attempt,  and  she  did 
not  like  to  disappoint  her.  It  is  true,  she  keenly  felt 
the  degradation  of  such  a  life,  and  even  feared  that 
Katy  might  be  led  astray  while  pursuing  such  an 
7* 


78  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

occupation  ;  but  she  gave  a  reluctant  consent,  trusting 
that  one  or  two  experiments  would  disgust  her  with 
the  business. 

Katy  clapped  her  hands  with  joy  as  her  mother's 
scruples  gave  way,  and  she  found  herself  at  liberty 
to  carry  her  plan  into  execution.  It  seemed  to  her 
as  though  she  had  crossed  the  threshold  of  fortune 
and  had  actually  entered  the  great  temple.  She  hao 
an  opportunity  to  accomplish  a  great  work,  and  hei 
enthusiasm  would  not  permit  her  to  doubt  in  regard 
to  her  final  success. 

"  I  must  begin  now,  mother,  and  make  all  the 
candy  this  afternoon,  so  that  I  can  commence  selling 
it  early  to-morrow  morning.  I  will  go  to  the  grocery 
now  and  get  the  molasses." 

"  Poor  child  ;  you  have  nothing  to  get  it  with. 
We  have  no  money  ;  you  did  not  think  of  that." 

"  Yes,  I  did,  and  I  have  the  money  to  buy  the 
molasses.  I  borrowed  it,"  replied  Katy,  evincing 
some  confusion. 

"You  borrowed  it?  Pray  tfho  would  lend  you 
money  ? " 

"  Miss  Grace  Gordon." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATV    RF.DBTRX.  79 

14  Did  you  borrow  it,  Katy  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Red- 
burn,  casting  a  reproachful  glance  at  her. 

"  Yes,  mother,  I  did.  I  would  not  accept  money 
now,  after  what  you  have  said  to  me.  Miss  Grace 
wanted  to  give  it  to  me  ;  but  I  told  her  I  could  not 
take  it.  She  laughed  at  me,  and  I  said  I  was  poor 
and  proud.  She  would  make  me  take  it,  and  said  so 
much,  that,  at  last,  I  told  her  if  she  would  lend  it  to 
me,  I  would  take  it." 

"  It  was  the  same  as  a  gift,"  said  Mrs.  Redburn, 
blushing  with  shame  at  the  thought  of  accepting 
alms. 

"  No,  it  wasn't ;  she  may  think  it  was,  but  I  mean 
to  pay  her,  and  I  shall  pay  her  ;  I  know  I  shall." 

"  If  you  can,"  sighed  the  proud  mother. 

"  I  shall  be  able  to  pay  her  soon,  for  I  mean  to  sell 
lots  of  candy." 

"  You  may  be  disappointed." 

"  No  ;  I  am  sure  I  shall  sell  a  good  deal ;  I  mean 
to  make  people  buy.  I  shall  talk  up  smart  to  them, 
just  as  the  shopkeepers  do  ;  I  am  going  to  tell  them 
what  good  candy  it  is,  and  that  their  little  sons  and 
daughters  will  like  it  very  much." 


60  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  You  are  beside  yourself,  Katy.  It  pains  me  to 
hear  you  talk  so.  It  is  sad  to  think  a  child  of  mine 
should  relish  such  an  employment  as  that  in  whicb 
you  are  going  to  engage." 

"  Do  you  remember  the  book  my  Sunday-school 
teacher  gave  me  last  New  Year's  day,  mother  ?  It 
was  all  about  false  pride  ;  I  want  you  to  read  it, 
mother.  We  can't  afford  to  be  so  proud." 

"  Go  and  get  your  molasses,  Katy,"  replied  Mrs. 
Redburn,  who  could  not  but  acknowledge  the  truth 
t>f  her  daughter's  remarks. 

She  had  read  the  book  alluded  to,  and  was  not 
willing  to  confront  the  arguments  it  had  put  in  the 
mouth  of  her  child.  She  was  conscious  that  her 
pride,  which  made  a  humble  occupation  repulsive  to 
her,  was  a  false  pride.  If  it  could  have  been  carried 
on  in  private,  it  would  not  have  seemed  so  galling. 
For  years  she  had  been  a  recluse  from  society,  min 
gling  only  with  her  humble  neighbors,  and  with  them 
no  more  than  her  circumstances  required.  She  had 
labored  in  solitude,  and  shunned  observation  as  much 
as  possible,  by  carrying  her  work  back  and  forth  in 
the  evening.  Years  of  hard  toil  had  not  familiarized 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      81 

her  with  the  circumstances  of  her  lot.  She  tried  to 
be  humble  and  submissive,  but  the  memory  of  her 
early  days  could  not  be  driven  away. 

Katy  returned  in  a  few  minutes  with  the  jug  of 
molasses.  She  bustled  round  and  made  up  a  good 
fire,  got  the  kettle  on,  and  every  thing  in  readiness 
for  the  work.  Her  mother  gave  her  directions  how 
to  proceed  ;  but  Katy  could  impart  to  her  none  of 
her  own  enthusiasm. 

When  the  molasses  had  been  cooked  enough,  she 
was  ready  to  commence  the  pulling,  which  was  the 
most  difficult  part  in  the  manufacture  of  her  merchan 
dise.  Then  she  found  that  her  trials  had  indeed 
commenced.  At  first  the  sticky  mass,  in  spite  of  the 
butter  and  the  flour  with  which  she  had  plentifully 
daubed  her  hands,  was  as  obstinate  as  a  mule.  It 
would  not  work  one  way  or  another ;  now  it  melted 
down,  and  stuck  to  her  fingers,  and  then  it  became  as 
solid  as  a  rock.  She  fretted  some  at  these  crosses, 
and  as  her  spirits  sank,  her  mother's  rose,  for  she 
thought  Katy's  resolution  would  not  hold  out  long 
enough  for  her  to  complete  the  experiment.  But 
she  underrated  the  energy  of  the  devoted  girl,  who 


82  POOK    AND    PKOUD,    OK 

in  the  face  of  every  discouragement,  stuck  to  the 
candy  with  a&  much  zeal  as  the  candy  stuck  to  her. 

As  is  almost  always  the  case  with  those  who  per 
severe  to  the  end,  Katy  soon  won  a  partial  triumph, 
which  gladdened  her  heart,  and  gave  her  courage  to 
continue  her  trying  labors.  She  had  worked  a  por 
tion  of  the  mass  into  candy  —  clear,  light-colored,  in 
viting  candy.  Columbus  felt  no  prouder  of  hia 
achievement  when  he  had  crossed  the  Atlantic,  or, 
Napoleon  when  he  had  passed  the  Alps.  She  danced 
for  joy  as  she  gazed  upon  the  clear,  straight  sticks  of 
candy,  as  they  were  arranged  in  the  pan.  It  was  a 
great  conquest  for  her ;  but  at  what  a  sacrifice  it  had 
been  won  !  Her  little  hands,  unused  to  such  hard 
work,  were  blistered  in  a  dozen  places,  and  smarted 
as  though  they  had  been  scalded  with  boiling  water. 
She  showed  them  to  her  mother,  who  begged  her  not 
to  do  any  more  ;  but  she  had  too  much  enthusiasm  to 
be  deterred  by  the  smart  of  her  wounds,  and  reso- 
4utely  resumed  her  labor. 

She  had  scarcely  commenced  upon  the  second  mass 
before  she  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Mrs. 
Howard,  her  friend  Tommy's  mother. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      83 

"  Why,  what  are  you  doing,  child  ? "  asked  the 
good  woman.  "  I  thought  you  were  all  sick,  and 
here  you  are  making  candy,  as  merry  as  on  a  feast 
day." 

"  I  am  making  it  to  sell,  Mrs.  Howard,"  replied 
Katy,  proudly. 

"  Bless  me  !  but  you're  a  queer  child !  Do  you 
think  folks  will  buy  it  of  you  ?  " 

"  I  know  they  will ;  "  and  Katy  detailed  her  plan  to 
the  interested  neighbor,  declaring  she  was  sure  she 
could  support  her  mother  and  herself  by  making  and 
Belling  candy.  "  But  it  is  very  hard  work,"  she 
added ;  "  see  how  I've  blistered  my  hands." 

"  Poor  child  !  it's  enough  to  kill  you  !  "  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Howard,  as  she  glanced  at  the  great  blisters  on 
Katy's  hands. 

"  I  have  been  trying  to  make  her  give  up  the  idea, 
but  she  has  more  courage  than  I  ever  gave  her  credit 
for,"  remarked  Mrs.  Redburn. 

4 '  It's  a  shame  for  you  to  hurt  your  hands  in  this 
manner  ;  but  I  dare  say  they  will  soon  get  hard,  like 
mine,  with  the  labor,"  replied  Mrs.  Howard,  a*  she 
threw  off  her  hood  and  rolled  up  her  sleeves.  "  Here, 
child,  let  me  help  you." 


84  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 

"You  are  very  kind,  ma'am;  and  I  hope  I  shall 
be  able  to  do  something  for  you  some  time." 

"  Never  you  mind  that ;  you  are  a  nice  girl,  and 
it  does  my  heart  good  to  see  you  trying  to  help  your 
mother,"  added  the  kind  woman,  as  she  detached 
a  large  mass  of  candy,  and  commenced  pulling  it 
with  a  vigor  that  astonished  the  weak-handed  little 
girl.  "  You're  a  jewel  and  a  blessing,  and  you're 
worth  a  dozen  of  the  fine  ladies  that  are  too  proud  to 
lift  a  finger  to  keep  their  bodies  from  starving.  Ah, 
it's  a  dreadful  misfortune  to  be  proud." 

"  To  be  poor  and  proud,"  said  Mrs.  Redburn. 

"  You  are  right,  ma'am  ;  and  I  am  glad  to  see  you 
have  none  of  it  here ;  for  some  of  your  neighbors  used 
to  say  you  were  too  proud  to  speak  to  them." 

Mrs.  Redburn  made  no  reply,  and  permitted  her 
kind  neighbor,  whose  tongue  scarcely  ceased  to  swing 
for  a  moment,  to  continue  her  remarks  without  oppo 
sition.  She  and  Katy  worked  with  all  their  might 
till  the  candy  was  ready  for  market,  and  when  the 
poor  invalid  poured  out  her  thanks,  she  ran  off  and 
left  them. 

The   exultation   with   which   Katy   regarded    her 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.      K5 

plentiful  stock  of  merchandise  almost  caused  her  to 
forget  her  smarting  hands  ;  and  when  she  could  no 
longer  keep  her  eyes  open,  she  went  to  sleep  to  dream 
of  great  operations  in  molasses  candy  on  'change 
next  day. 

8 


86  POOH    AND    PROUD,    OB 


CHAPTER    VII. 

KATY    MAXES    A    LARGE    SALE. 

KA.TY  rose  the  next  morning  bright  and  early, 
and  her  heart  was  full  of  hope.  She  felt  that  she 
had  a  great  work  to  perform,  and  she  was  going 
forth  to  do  it,  resolved  that  no  obstacle  should  turn 
her  back.  Her  mother  had  told  her  that  she  would 
be  laughed  at,  and  made  fun  of;  that  thoughtless 
people  would  look  down  upon  her  with  contempt, 
and  that  wicked  ones  would  insult  her.  She  was, 
therefore,  prepared  for  all  these  trials,  but  she  had 
braced  herself  up  to  meet  them  with  courage  and 
fortitude. 

Her  mother  was  sick,  and  they  were  actually  in  a 
suffering  condition.  What  right  had  she  to  be  proud 
in  her  poverty  ?  She  felt  able  to  support  her  mother, 
and  she  could  find  no  excuse,  if  she  wished  to  do  so, 
for  not  supporting  her.  *It  was  her  duty,  therefore; 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.      8"7 

to  sell  candy,  if  she  could  get  money  by  it ;  and  this 
consideration  strengthened  her  heart. 

Katy  had  been  to  the  public  school  and  to  the 
Sunday  school  until  her  mother  was  taken  sick  ;  and 
though  she  was  only  eleven  years  old,  she  had  a  very 
good  idea  of  her  moral  and  religious  duties.  "Honor 
thy  father  and  thy  mother,"  the  commandment  says ; 
and  she  could  think  of  no  better  way  to  obey  the 
divine  precept  than  to  support  her  mother  when  there 
was  no  one  else  upon  whom  she  could  rely.  Little 
by  little  their  earthly  possessions  had  passed  away. 
Mrs.  Redburn  had  never  learned  how  to  save 
money  ;  and  when  the  day  of  adversity  came,  her 
funds  were  soon  exhausted.  She  had  no  friends  to 
whom  she  dared  reveal  her  poverty,  and  when  want 
came  to  the  door,  she  was  too  proud  to  beg.  Hop- 
in"-  for  better  days,  she  had  sold  most  of  her  best 
Iresses,  and  those  of  Katy.  The  small  sums  raised 
>y  these  sacrifices  were  soon  used  up ;  and  when 
*he  daughter  could  no  longer  make  a  decent  ap 
pearance,  she  was  required  to  show  herself  much 
more  than  ever  before.  Katy  did  not  repine  at 
this,  though  her  mother  did,  for  their  pride,  as  ray 


FOOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 

young  friends  ha^e  discovered,  was  of  very  different 
kinds. 

Katy  did  wish  she  had  a  little  better  dress,  and  a 
little  better  bonnet  for  her  first  attempt  in  the  mer 
cantile  calling ;  but  there  was  no  help  for  it.  She 
had  mended  her  clothes  as  well  as  she  could,  and  as 
they  were  clean,  she  was  pretty  well  satisfied  with 
her  personal  appearance.  Besides,  people  would  not 
be  half  so  apt  to  buy  her  candy  if  she  were  well 
dressed,  as  if  she  were  rather  plainly  clothed.  In 
short,  it  was  all  for  the  best. 

After  breakfast  she  prepared  herself  for  the  duties 
of  the  day.  Her  heart  beat  violently  with  anxiety 
and  expectation,  and  while  she  was  placing  the  candy 
on  the  tray,  which  she  had  previously  covered  with 
white  paper,  to  render  her  wares  the  more  inviting, 
her  mother  gave  her  a  long  lecture  on  the  trials  and 
difficulties  in  her  path,  and  the  proper  way  to  en 
counter"  them. 

"  Now,  my  dear  child,"  said  Mrs.  Iledburn,  m 
conclusion,  "  if  any  evil  person  insults  you,  dp  not 
resent  it,  but  run  away  as  fast  as  you  can.'* 

"  Shan't  1  say  any  thing,  mother  ?  '* 


THE  FOBTUNR8  OF  KATY  REDBUBN.      89 

"Not  a  word." 

•*  But  if  some  naughty  boy  or  girl,  no  bigger  than 
I  am  myself,  should  be  saucy  to  me,  I  think  I  can 
give  them  as  good  as  they  send." 

4*  Don't  do  it,  Katy." 

44  They  have  no  business  to  insult  me." 

44  That  is  very  true  ;  but  when  you  use  bad  or 
violent  language  to  them,  you  go  down  to  their 
level." 

"  But  if  they  begin  it  ?  " 

44 No  matter,  Katy;  if  they  are  unkind  and  wicked, 
it  is  no  reason  that  you  should  be  unkind  and  wick 
ed.  If  you  leave  them  without  resenting  their  in 
sults,  the  chances  are  that  they  will  bs  ashamed  of 
themselves  before  you  get  out  of  sight.  You  need 
not  be  low  and  vile  because  others  are." 

"  I  guess  you  are  right,  mother." 

"  You  know  what  the  Bible  says  :  '  If  thine  en 
emy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink : 
for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his 
head.'  " 

44 1  won't  say  a  word,  mother,  whatever  they  say 
,o  me.     I'll  be  as  meek  as  Moses." 
8* 


90  POOR    AXD    PKOUD,    OB 

44 1  hope  you  will  not  be  gone  long,"  added  Mrs 
Redburn. 

"  I  have  thirty  sticks  of  candy  here.  I  don't  think 
it  will  take  me  long  to  sell  the  whole  of  them.  I 
shall  be  back  by  dinner  time  whether  I  sell  them 
or  not,  for  you  know  I  must  go  to  Mrs.  Gordon 
again  to-day.  Now,  good  by,  mother ;  and  don't 
you  worry  about  me,  for  I  will  do  every  thing  just 
as  though  you  were  looking  at  me." 

Katy  closed  the  door  behind  her,  and  did  not  see 
the  great  tears  that  slid  down  her  mother's  pale 
cheek  as  she  departed.  It  was  well  she  did  not, 
tor  it  would  have  made  her  heart  very  sad  to  know 
all  the  sorrow  and  anxiety  that  distressed  her  mother 
as  she  saw  her  going  out  into  the  crowded  streets  of 
a  great  city,  to  expose  herself  to  a  thousand  tempta 
tions.  She  wept  long  and  bitterly  in  the  solitude  of 
her  chamber ;  and  perhaps  her  wounded  pride  caused 
many  of  her  tears  to  flow.  But  better  thoughts  ^  4 

came  at  last,  and  she  took  up  the  Bible  which  lay 

i 
on   the  bed,    and   read   a  few   passages.      Then    she 

prayed  to  God  that  he  would  be  with  Katy  in  the 
midst  of  the  crowd,  and  guide  her  safely  through  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REBEL' RN.      91 

Derils  and  temptations  that  would  assail  her.  She 
tried  to  banish  her  foolish  pride  ;  when  she  consid 
ered  her  circumstances,  she  could  almost  believe  it 
was  a  wicked  pride  ;  but  when  she  endeavored  to  be 
reconciled  to  her  lot,  the  thought  of  her  father's  fine 
house,  and  the  servants  that  used  to  wait  upon  her, 
came  up,  and  the  struggle  in  her  heart  was  very 
severe.  In  spite  of  all  she  had  said  to  Katy  about 
the  disgrace  of  selling  candy  in  the  streets,  she  could 
not  but  be  thankful  that  the  poor  girl  had  none  of 
her  foolish  pride.  She  read  in  the  New  Testament 
about  the  lowly  life  which  Jesus  and  the  apostles 
led,  and  then  asked  herself  what  right  she  had  to 
be  proud.  And  thus  she  struggled  through  the  long 
hours  she  remained  alone  —  trying  to  be  humble, 
trying  to  be  good  and  true.  Those  who  labor  and 
struggle  as  hard  as  she  did  are  always  the  better  for 
it,  even  though  they  do  not  achieve  a  perfect  tri 
umph  over  the  passions  that  torment  them. 

Katy  blushed  when  she  met  the  keeper  of  the 
grocery  at  the  corner  of  the  court,  for  in  spite  of 
all  her  fine  talk  about  false  pride,  she  had  not  en 
tirely  banished  it  from  her  heart.  Some  queer 


?2  POOR    AND    PEOUD,    OS 

ideas  canje  into  her  head  as  she  thought  what  she 
was  doing.  What  would  her  grandfather,  the  rich 
Liverpool  merchant,  say,  should  he  meet  her  then? 
Of  course  he  would  not  know  her  ;  he  would  be 
ashamed  of  her.  But  she  did  not  permit  such  re 
flections  as  these  to  influence  her ;  and  as  soon  as 
she  was  conscious  of  the  nature  of  her  thoughts  she 
banished  them. 

44  I'm  going  to  support  my  mother,  and  I  have  no 
right  to  be  proud.  If  I  meet  my  grandfather,  I 
should  like  to  sell  him  twenty  sticks  of  candy." 

44  Hallo,  Katy  !  What  are  you  going  to  do  ? " 
said  a  voice  behind,  which  she  recognized  as  that  of 
her  friend  Tommy  Howard. 

"  I'm  going  to  sell  this  candy,"  replied  Katy. 

44  You're  a  spunky  one  ;  mother  told  me  all  about 
it.  I  should  like  two  sticks,"  said  Tommy,  as  he 
offered  her  the  money. 

44  Take  two,  Tommy,  and  as  many  more  as  you 
like." 

44  Two  is  all  I  want ;  "  and  he  placed  the  two  cents 
on  the  tray. 

"  No,  Tommy,  I  won't  take  your  money,"  replied 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBUBN.      93 

Katy,  with  a  blush,  for  she  felt  ashamed  to  take  His 
money. 

"  That's  no  way  to  trade,"  laughed  Tommy.  "  You 
won't  make  much,  if  you  do  so.  Keep  the  money 
and  I  will  keep  the  candy." 

"  I  can't  keep  it,  Tommy." 

"  You  must ;  if  you  don't  take  the  money,  I  won't 
take  the  candy." 

"  I  owe  you  two  cents,  Tommy.  I  will  pay  you 
now." 

"  No,  you  don't !  " 

"  Please  to  take  them ;  I  shall  feel  very  bad,  if  you 
don't." 

Tommy  Howard  looked  her  in  the  eye  a  moment ; 
he  saw  a  tear  there.  Her  pride  was  wounded,  and 
he  took  the  two  cents  from  the  tray,  for  he  did  not 
wish  to  give  her  pain. 

"  Now,  we  are  square,  Tommy,"  said  Katy,  as  her 
lace  brightened  up  again. 

"  Yes,  we  are,  but  I  don't  like  it  pretty  well.  One 
of  these  days,  when  you  get  out  of  this  scrape,  I  will 
let  you  give  me  as  much  candy  as  you  have  a  mind  to." 

This  was  very  obliging  of  Tommy  ;  and  when  Katy 


94  POOR    AND    PBOUD,    OB 

understood  his  motive,  she  was  sorry  she  had  not 
permitted  him  to  pay  for  the  candy,  for  she  saw  that 
he  did  not  feel  just  right  about  the  transaction.  It 
was  not  exactly  mercantile,  but  then  the  heart  cornea 
before  commerce.  As  she  walked  along,  she  could 
not  help  thinking  that  her  natural  generosity  might 
seriously  interfere  with  the  profits  of  her  enterprise. 
She  had  a  great  many  friends  ;  and  it  became  a 
knotty  question  for  her  to  decide  whether,  if  she  met 
any  of  her  school  companions,  she  should  give  each 
of  them  a  stick  of  candy.  She  would  like  to  do  so 
very  much  indeed ;  but  it  was  certain  she  could  not 
afford  to  pursue  such  a  liberal  policy.  It  was  a  hard 
question,  and,  hoping  she  should  not  meet  any  of  her 
schoolmates,  she  determined  to  refer  iv  to  her  mother 
for  settlement. 

When  she  got  into  Washington  Street,  she  felt  that 
the  time  for  action  had  come.  Now  was  the  time  to 
sell  candy  ;  and  yet  she  did  not  feel  like  asking  folks 
to  buy  her  wares.  The  night  before,  as  she  lay  think 
ing  about  her  business,  it  had  all  seemed  very  easy 
to  her  ;  but  now  it  was  quite  a  different  thing.  No 
one  seemed  to  take  any  notice  of  her,  or  to  feel  the 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN. 


9,1 


least  interest  in  the  great  mission  she  had  under- 
taken.  But  Katy  was  aware  that  it  requires  some 
effort  in  these  days  to  sell  goods,  and  she  must  work ; 
ehe  must  ask  people  to  buy  her  candy. 

There  was  a  nice-looking  gentleman,  with  a  good- 
natured  face,  coming  down  the  street,  and  she  resolved 
to  make  a  beginning  with  him.  He  couldn't  say 
much  more  than  no  to  her,  and  she  placed  herself 
in  a  position  to  accost  him.  But  when  he  came  near 
enough,  her  courage  all  oozed  out,  and  she  let  him 
pass  without  speaking  to  him. 

"  What  a  fool  I  am  ! "  exclaimed  she  to  herself 
when  he  had  passed.  "  I  shall  never  do  any  thing 
in  this  way.  There  comes  another  gentleman  who 
looks  as  though  he  had  a  sweet  tooth  ;  at  any  rate, 
he  seems  as  good-natured  as  a  pound  of  sugar.  I  will 
certainly  try  him." 

Her  heart  pounded  against  her  ribs  as  though  it 
had  been  worked  by  a  forty-horse  engine  — poor  girL 
It  was  a  great  undertaking  to  her ;  quite  as  great  as 
taking  a  six-story  granite  warehouse,  piling  it  full  of 
merchandise  from  cellar  to  attic,  and  announcing  him- 
self  as  ready  for  business,  to  a  child 'of  a  largei 


96  POOR    AND    PEOUD,    OR 

growth.  Every  thing  seemed  to  hang  on  the  issues 
of  that  tremendous  moment. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "  said  she,  in  tremulous  tones, 
her  gre^t,  swelling  heart  almost  choking  her  ut 
terance. 

"  No,  child.  I  don't  want  any,"  replied  the  gen 
tleman,  kindly,  as  he  glanced  at  the  tray  on  which 
the  candy  had  been  so  invitingly  spread. 

"  It  is  very  nice,"  stammered  Katy  ;  "  and  perhaps 
your  children  at  home  would  like  some,  if  you  do 
not." 

Bravo,  Katy !  That  was  very  well  done,  though 
the  gentleman  was  an  old  bachelor,  and  could  not 
appreciate  the  full  force  of  your  argument. 

"  Are  you  sure  it  is  very  nice  ? "  asked  the  gentle 
man,  with  a  benevolent  smile,  when  he  had  laughed 
heartily  at  Katy's  jumping  conclusion. 

"  I  know  it  is,"  replied  the  little  candy  merchant, 
very  positively. 

"  Then  you  may  give  me  six  sticks ; "  and  he 
threw  a  fourpence  on  her  tray. 

Six  sticks  !  Katy  was  astounded  at  the  magni 
tude  of  her  first  commercial  transaction.  Visions  of 


THE  FORTUNES   )F  KATT  REDBURN.      97 

urealth,  a  fine  house,  and  silk  dresses  for  her  mother 
and  herself,  danced  through  her  excited  brain,  and 
she  thought  that  her  grandfather,  the  great  Liverpool 
merchant,  would  not  have  been  ashamed  of  her,  if 
he  had  been  present  to  witness  that  magnificent  op 
eration. 

"Have  you  any  paper  to  wrap  it  up  in?  "  asked 
the  gentleman. 

Here  was  an  emergency  for  which  Katy  had  not 
provided.  Her  grandest  expectations  had  not  ex 
tended  beyond  the  sale  of  one  stick  at  a  time,  and 
she  was  not  prepared  for  such  a  rush  of  trade.  How 
ever,  she  tore  off  a  piece  from  one  of  the  white  sheets 
at  the  bottom  of  the  tray,  wrapped  up  the  BIX  sticks 
as  nicely  as  she  could,  and  handed  them  to  the  gen 
tleman,  who  then  left  her  to  find  another  customer. 

Kuty,  elated  by  her  first  success,  ran  home  as  fast 
as  she  could  to  procure  some  more  white  paper,  of 
which  she  had  a  dozen  stieets  that  had  been  given 
her  by  a  friend.  It  was  in  the  back  room,  so  that 

she  did  not  disturb  her  mother,  choosing  to  astonish 

• 
her  with  the  whole  story  of  her  success  at  noon. 

9 


98  POOR    AND    PRJUD.    OX 


CH.VPT.ER    VIII. 

RATY    SELLS    O^T,    AND    TISITS    THE    MAYOR. 

KATY  reached  Washington  Ct/eet  once  more.  She 
had  lost  all  her  timiJity,  and  \roidd  not  have  feared 
to  accost  the  governor,  if  she  La**  met  him,  and  re 
quest  him  to  purcha**  a  cent's  forth  of  molasses 
candy. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ? v  said  she  I:  the  nrst  person 
who  passed  near  her. 

"No!  "was  the  pron»pt  and  em  \4  .^*c  answer  of 
the  gentleman  addressed. 

"  It  is  very  nice,"  sugg^-ed  Katy. 

"  Get  out  of  my  way,"  growled  the  gpAueman,  and 
the  little  candy  merchant  deemed  it  prudorU  to  heed 
ths  command. 

She  was  nettled  by  this  rude  reception,  ar\l  \vould 
have  been  disposed  to  resent  it,  if  there  had  le^.B  any 
way  for  her  to  do  so.  She  had  not  yet  lcar.it  3  *o 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    11EDBURN.  99 

bear  i,p  against  the  misfortunes  of  trade,  and  her  eye 
followed  the  sour  gentleman  far  down  the  street 
Why  should  he  treat  her  in  such  a  rude  and  unkind 
manner  ?  What  would  he  say  if  she  should  tell  him 
that  her  grandfather  was  a  great  Liverpool  merchant 
lived  in  a  big  house,  and  had  lots  of  servants -to  wait 
upon  him  ?  She  was  as  good  as  he  was,  any  day. 

"  Give  me  a  stick  of  candy,"  said  a  nice  little  girl 
with  a  silk  dress  on,  whom  a  lady  was  holding  bj 
the  hand,  at  the  same  time  placing  a  cent  on  hei 
tray. 

Katy  started  at  the  words,  and  reproved  herself 
for  her  want  of  meekness.  She  might,  perhaps,  have 
sold  half  a  dozen  sticks  of  candy  while  she  had  been 
watching  the  sour  gentleman,  and  persuading  her 
self  that  she  had  been  very  badly  used.  She  tore 
off  a  piece  of  paper,  in  which  she  wrapped  up  the 
candy  for  the  purchaser,  and  handed  it  to  her. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  she,  as  she  picked  up  the  cop 
per,  and  transferred  it  to  her  pocket. 

"  Your  candy  looks  very  nice,"  added  the  lady, 
evidently  pleased  with  Katy's  polite  manners. 

"  It'*  very  nice,  ma'am." 


100  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

"  Ha-v  e  you  sold  much  to-day  ?  " 

*'  No,  ma'am ;  I  have  but  just  come  out." 

"  It  looks  so  good,  I  will  take  half  a  dozen  sticks 
for  the  children  at  home." 

"  Thank  you,  ma'am ;  you  are  very  kind,"  replied 
Katy ;  and  her  nimble  fingers  had  soon  made  a  nice 
little  parcel  for  the  lady,  who  gave  her  a  fourpence. 

Here  was  another  avalanche  of  good  fortune,  and 
the  little  candy  merchant  could  hardly  believe  her 
senses.  At  this  rate  she  would  soon  become  a  whole 
sale  dealer  in  the  article. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "  said  she,  addressing  the  next 
person  she  met. 

"  No." 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "    she  continued,   turning  to 

the  next. 

"  No." 

And  so  she  went  from  one  to  another,  and  no  one 
seemed  to  have  the  least  relish  for  molasses  candy. 
She  walked  till  she  came  to  State- Street,  and  sold 
only  three  sticks.  She  had  begun  to  be  a  little  dis 
heartened,  for  the  success  she  had  met  with  at  the 
beginning  had  raised  her  anticipations  so  high  that 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KA.TY    REDBURJT.  101 

she  was  not  disposed  to  be  content  with  moleiate 
sales.  While  she  was  standing  at  the  corner  of 
State  Street,  waiting  impatiently  for  customers,  she 
saw  a  man  with  a  basket  of  apples  enter  a  store. 
She  crossed  the  street  to  observe  what  he  did  IP 
the  store,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  get  an  idea  of 
his  mode  of  doing  business.  She  saw  him  offer  his 
apples  to  the  clerks  and  others  in  the  shop,  and  she 
was  surprised  and  gratified  to  see  that  nearly  every 
person  purchased  one  or  more  of  them.  In  her 
heart  she  thanked  the  apple  man  for  the  hint  he  had 
unconsciously  afforded  her,  and  resolved  to  profit  by 
his  example. 

Now  that  commerce  was  her  business,  she  was  dis 
posed  to  make  it  her  study ;  and  as  she  reasoned 
over  the  matter,  she  came  to  understand  why  she 
found  so  few  buyers  in  the  street.  Ladies  and  gen 
tlemen  did  not  like  to  be  seen  eating  candy  in  the 
street ;  neither  would  many  of  them  want  to  put  it 
into  their  pockets,  where  it  would  melt  and  stick  to 
their  clothes.  They  would  eat  it  in  their  shops  and 
houses  ;  atfd  with  this  new  idea  she  was  encouraged 
to  make  a  new  effort.  Walking  along  till  she  came 
9* 


1 POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

to  a  store  where  there  appeared  to  be  several  clerks 
she  entered. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "  said  she,  addressing  a  sales 
man  near  the  window,  as  she  raised  up  her  wares  so 
that  he  could  see  them. 

The  clerk  made  no  reply,  but  coming  round  from 
behind  the  counter,  he  rudely  took  her  arm,  opened 
the  door,  and  pushed  her  into  the  street.  Katy's 
cheek  burned  with  indignation  at  this  unpro 
voked  assault,  and  she  wished  for  the  power  of  ten 
men,  that  she  might  punish  the  ill-natured  fellow 
as  he  deserved.  But  it  was  all  for  the  best,  for,  in 
•pushing  her  out  of  the  shop,  the  clerk  threw  her 
against  a  portly  gentleman  on  the  street,  whose  soft, 
yielding  form  aUme  saved  her  from  being  tumbled 
into  the  gutter.  He  showed  no  disposition  to  resent 
the  assault  upon  his  obesity,  and  kindly  caught  her 
in  his  arms. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  my  dear  ?  "  said  the  gentle 
man,  in  soothing  tones. 

44  That  man  pushed  me  out  of  the  store,"  replied 
Katy,  bursting  into  tears,  for  she  was  completely 
overcome  by  the  indignity  that  had  been  cast  upon 
her. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF     KATY     REDBURN. 

"  Perhaps  you  didn't  behave  well." 
"I   am  sure  I    did.     I    only   asked    him    to    buy 
some  candy  ;  and  he  shoved  me  right  out  the  door, 
just  as  though  I  had  been  a  dog." 

"  Well,  well,  don't  cry,  my  dear  ;  you  seem  to  be 
a  very  well-behaved  little  girl,  and  I  wonder  at  find 
ing  you  in  such  a  low  business." 

"My  mother  is  sick,  and  I  am  trying  to  earn 
something  to  support  her,"  sobbed  Katy,  who,  with 
her  independent  notions  of  trade  in  general,  and  of 
the  candy  trade  in  particular,  would  not  have  re 
vealed  this  humiliating  truth,  except  under  the  se 
vere  pressure  of  a  wounded  spirit. 

"  Poor  child  !  "    exclaimed    the  portly  gentleman, 
fhrusting  his  hand  deep  down  into  his  pocket,  and 
pulling    up   a  handful  of   silver.     "  Here    is    half  a 
dollar  for  you,  for  1  know  you  tell  the  truth." 
"  O,  no,  sir ;  I  can't  take  money  as  a  gift." 
«  Eh  ? " 

The  gentleman  looked  astonished,  and  attempted 
to  persuade  her ;  but  she  steadily  protested  agamst 
receiving  his  money  as  a  gift. 

"  You  are  a  proud  little  git  I,  my  dear." 


104  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  am  poor  and  proud  :  but  I  will  sell  you  some 
candy." 

"  Well,  give  me  half  a  dollar's  worth." 

"  I  haven't  got  so  much.  I  have  only  fourteen 
cents'  worth  left." 

"  Give  me  that,  then." 

Katy  wrapped  up  the  remainder  of  her  stock  in  a 
piece  of  paper,  and  handed  it  to  the  gentleman,  who 
in  payment  threw  the  half  dollar  on  the  tray. 

"  I  can't  change  it." 

"  Never  mind  the  change ;  "  and  the  fat  gentleman 
hurried  away. 

Katy  was  so  utterly  astounded  to  find  she  had  dis 
posed  of  her  entire  stock,  that  she  did  not  have  the 
presence  of  mind  to  follow  him,  and  the  half  dollar 
had  to  be  placed  in  her  treasury.  She  did  not  re 
gard  it  with  so  much  pride  and  pleasure  as  she  did 
the  two  fourpences  and  the  four  coppers,  for  there 
was  something  unmercantile  about  the  manner  in 
which  it  had  come  into  her  possession.  She  could 
not  feel  satisfied  with  herself,  as  she  walked  towards 
home,  till  she  had  argued  the  matter,  and  effected 
a  compromise  between  her  pride  and  her  poverty. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     105 

She  had  sold  candy  for  the  money,  and  the  gentle 
man  had  paid  her  over  three  cents  a  stick  —  rathei 
above  the  market  value  of  the  article  ;  but  there  was 
no  other  way  to  make  the  transaction  correspond  with 
her  ideas  of  propriety. 

Her  work  was  done  for  the  forenoon,  though  she 
had  plenty  of  candy  at  home.  It  was  now  eleven 
o'clock,  and  she  had  not  time  to  sell  out  another 
stock  before  dinner.  As  she  walked  up  the  street, 
on  her  way  home,  she  encountered  Master  Simou 
Sneed,  who,  with  the  dignity  and  stateliness  of  a 
merchant  prince,  was  lugging  a  huge  bundle  of  goods 
to  the  residence  of  some  customer. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Simon,"  said  Katy. 
"•  Have  you  seen  your  friend  the  mayor  ?  " 

"  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you,  Katy,  that  a  press  of 
business  has  prevented  my  calling  on  his  honor." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that.  I  am  afraid  I  shall  never 
see  the  watch  again." 

"  Depend  upon  it,  you  shall.  I  pledge  you  my 
honor  that  I  will  use  every  exertion  to  recover  the 
lost  treasure.  Just  now  our  firm  require  \he  undi 
vided  attention  of  all  in  the  store." 


106  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  told  Mrs.  Gordon  all  about  it,  and  she  prom 
ised  to  speak  to  the  mayor." 

"  It  was  unnecessary  to  trouble  her  with  the  mat 
ter  ;  my  influence  with  the  mayor  will  be  quite 
sufficient." 

"  I  dare  say  it  will ;  but  when  shall  you  see  him  ?  '' 

"  Very  soon  ;   be  patient,  Katy." 

'*  Mrs.  Gordon  promised  to  take  me  to  the  mayor 
to-day,  and  tell  him  all  about  it." 

"  Take  you  to  the  mayor ! "  exclaimed  Master 
Simon. 

"  That's  what  she  said." 

"  You  will  be  afraid  of  him,  and  not  able  to  tell 
your  story." 

"  No,  I  guess  I  shan't.  I  will  tell  him  that  I  have 
mentioned  the  matter  to  you." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  not ;  his  honor,  though 
we  have  been  quite  intimate,  may  not  remember  my 
name.  But  I  must  leave  you  now,  for  the  firm  get 
very  uneasy  in  my  absence." 

Simon  shouldered  his  bundle  again,  and  moved  of, 
and  Katy  walked  towards  home,  wondering  why  a 
person  of  so  much  importance  to  the  Messrs.  Sauda 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     107 

&  Co.  should  be  permitted  to  degrade  himself  by 
carrying  bundles.  When  she  got  home,  she  found 
her  mother  in  a  very  cheerful  frame  of  mind,  the 
result  of  her  reading  and  meditation. 

"  Well,  Katy,  you  come  back  with  an  empty  tray  ; 
have  you  sold  all  your  candy  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Kedburn, 
as  she  entered  the  room. 

"  Yes,  mother,  every  stick.  I  have  brought  back 
sixty-six  cents,"  replied  Katy,  emptying  her  pocket 
on  the  bed. 

"  Sixty-six  cents  !  But  you  had  only  thirty  sticks 
of  candy." 

"  You  must  not  blame  me  for  what  I  have  done, 
mother  ;  I  could  not  help  it ;  "  and  she  proceeded  to 
narrate  all  the  particulars  of  her  forenoon's  occupation. 

Mrs.  Redburn  was  annoyed  at  the  incident  with  the 
fat  gentleman  ;  more  so  than  by  the  rudeness  to 
which  Katy  had  been  subjected.  The  little  merchant 
was  so  elated  at  her  success,  that  her  mother  could 
not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  cast  a  damper  upon  hei 
spirits  by  a  single  reproach.  Perhaps  her  morning's 
teflections  had  subdued  her  pride  so  that  she  did  not 
feel  disposed  to  do  so. 


POOR    AXI)    PROUD,    OK 

After  dinner  Katy  hastened  at  once  to  Temple  Streei 
again.  To  her  great  disappointment  she  found  that 
Mrs.  Gordon  and  her  daughter  had  been  suddenly 
called  to  Baltimore  hy  the  death  of  one  of  her  hus 
band's  near  relatives.  But  the  kind  lady  had  not 
forgotten  her,  and  that  was  a  great  consolation.  Mi 
chael  gave  her  a  note,  directed  to  the  mayor,  which 
he  instructed  her  to  deliver  that  day. 

With  the  assistance  of  Michael,  she  found  the 
house  of  the  mayor,  and  though  her  heart  beat  vio 
lently,  she  resolutely  rang  the  bell  at  the  door. 

"  Is  the  mayor  in  ? "  asked  she  of  the  sleek  ser 
vant  man  that  answered  the  summons. 

"  Well,  suppose  he  is ;   what  of  it  ?  "  replied   the 
servant,  who  could  not  possibly  have  been  aware  that 
Katy's  grandfather  was  a  rich  Liverpool  merchant,  or 
he  would  have  spoken  more  civilly  to  her. 
"  I  want  to  see  him." 

"  He  don't  see  little  brats  like  you,"  answered  the 
servant,  shutting  the  door  in  her  face. 

Katy  was  indignant.  She  wished  a  dozen  thinga 
all  at  once  ;  and  among  other  things,  she  wished 
Master  Simon  Sneed  had  been  there,  that  he  mighi 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KA.TY    REDBTJRN. 

report  the  circumstance  to  his  friend  the  mayor. 
What  was  to  be  done  ?  It  was  mean  to  treat  her  in 
that  shabby  manner,  and  she  would  not  stand  it! 
She  would  not,  that  she  wouldn't !  Grasping  the  bell 
handle  with  a  courageous  hand,  she  gave  a  pull  that, 
must  have  astonished  the  occupants  of  the  servants' 
hall,  and  led  them  to  believe  that  some  distinguished 
character  had  certainly  come.  The  sleek  man  servant 
reappeared  at  the  door,  ready  to  make  his  lowest  bow 
to  the  great  personage,  when  he  beheld  the  flashing 
aye  of  Katy. 

**  How  dare  you  ring  that  bell  again  ?  "   snarled  he 

"  I  want  to  see  the  mayor ;  I  have  a  note  for  him 
from  Mrs.  Gordon,  and  I  won't  go  away  till  I  see 
him." 

4k  From  Mrs.  Gordon !  Why  didn't  you  s.^y  so  ? 
You  may  come  in." 

Katy  entered  at  this  invitation,  and  the  man  bade 
her  wait  in  the  hall  till  he  informed  the  mayor  of  her 
errand.  She  was  not  a  little  pleased  with  the  victory 
she  had  gained,  and  felt  quite  equal,  after  it,  to  the 
feat  of  facing  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city.  While 
she  stood  there,  a  little  boy,  having  in  his  hand  a 
10 


110  POOR    AND    PROUD,    D* 

Btick  of  molasses  candy,  with  which  he  haJ  contrived 
plentifully  to  bedaub  his  face,  came  out  of  the  ad 
joining  room,  and  surveyed  her  carefully  from  head 
to  foot.  Katy  looked  at  the  candy  with  attention, 
for  it  looked  just  like  one  of  the  sticks  she  had  sold 
that  forenoon.  The  little  fellow,  who  was  not  more 
than  five  or  six  years  of  age,  seemed  to  have  a  hearty 
relish  for  the  article,  and  as  he  turned  it  over,  Katy 
assured  herself  that  it  was  a  portion  of  her  stock. 

"  My  pa  brought  home  lots  of  candy,"  said  the 
little  fellow,  after  he  had  satisfied  himself  with  the 
survey  of  Katy's  person. 

"  Do  you  like  it  r  "  asked  she,  willing  to  cultivate 
his  acquaintance. 

"  Don't  I,  though  !  " 

'•  Where  did  your  father  get  it  ?  " 

t4  He  bought  it  of  a  little  girl ;  she  was  poor  and 
proud,"  replied  the  little  gentleman,  transferring  half 
an  inch  of  the  candy  to  his  mouth. 

"  Dear  me  !  "  exclaimed  Katy. 

But  her  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  return 
of  the  servant,  who  directed  Katy  to  follow  him  up 
stairs. 


THE    FOKTUXES    OF    KATY    KEDIHTRX.  Ill 


CHAPTER    IX. 

KATY    TALKS    WITH    THE    MAYOK,   AND    RECOVERS 
THE    WATCH. 

KATY  followed  the  servant  man,  whose  name  was 
John,  up  stairs ;  but  at  the  first  turn  he  stopped,  and 
begged  her  not  to  mention  that  he  had  shut  the  door 
upon  her. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Katy.  "  I  gave  you  no 
leason  to  treat  me  in  that  ugly  manner." 

"You  didn't;  but,  you  see,  I  thought  you  was 
some  beggar,  coming  to  disturb  his  honor." 

"  Do  I  look  like  a  beggar  ?  "  asked  Katy. 

"  Indeed  you  don't ;  that  was  a  bad  blunder  of 
mine.  If  you  mention  it,  I  shall  lose  my  place." 

"  Well,  I  won't  say  a  word  then  ;  but  I  hope  you 
will  learn  better  manners  next  time." 

"  Thank  you,  miss  ;  and  be  sure  I'll  treat  you  like 
a  lady  next  time." 


112  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

John  then  conducted  her  up  stairs  into  a  room  tLe 
walls  of  which  were  almost  covered  with  books. 
Katy  thought  what  a  wise  man  the  mayor  must  be, 
for  she  had  never  seen  so  many  books  before  in  her 
life,  and  took  it  for  granted  the  mayor  had  read  them 
all.  As  she  entered  the  apartment  she  saw  a  fat  gen 
tleman  sitting  at  the  desk,  very  busy  in  examining  a 
great  pile  of  papers.  When  he  turned  his  head,  Katy 
was  not  much  surprised  to  see  that  it  was  the  nice 
gentleman  who  had  given  her  half  a  dollar  for  four 
teen  cents'  worth  of  candy. 

"  Ah,  my  dear,  it  is  you  !  "  exclaimed  the  mayor, 
as  he  recognized  the  little  candy  merchant. 

•*^es,  sir;  if  you  please,  it  is  me,"  stammered 
Katy,  making  her  obeisance,  and  feeling  very  much 
confused,  for  it  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever  come 
into  the  presence  of  a  great  man,  and  she  could  not 
exactly  tell  whether  she  ought  to  get  down  on  her 
knees,  as  she  had  read  that  peopl >  did  when  they 
approached  a  king,  or  to  remain  standing. 

"  Well,  my  dear,  what  is  your  name  ?  "  continued 
the  mayor, 

"  Katy  Redburn,  if  you  please,  sir,"  replied  Katy, 
with  another  courtesy. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     113 

14 1  am  glad  you  have  come  to  me  with  this  busi 
ness,  Katy.  Mrs.  Gordon  speaks  very  handsomelv 
of  you." 

"  She  is  very  kind,  sir." 

"  You  have  lost  your  watch  —  have  you,  Katy  ?  " 

"  My  father's  watch,  if  you  please,  sir ;  "  and  hav 
ing  gained  a  little  confidence  from  the  kind  tones  of 
the  mayor,  she  proceeded  to  tell  him  the  whole  story 
of  her  adventure  in  the  pawnbroker's  shop. 

The  mayor  listened  attentively  to  the  artless  re 
cital,  and  promised  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  regain 
the  watch. 

'*  Were  you  alone,  Katy,  when  you  went  to  the 
pawnbroker's  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  there  was  one  of  your  friends  with  me," 
replied  she  with  a  simple  smile. 

*«  One  of  my  friends  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  he  promised  to  see  you  about  it." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  have  been  imposed  upon,  Katy." 

"  No,  sir  ;  he  has  often  spoken  to  me  about  his 
Friend  the  mayor." 

"  But  who  was  he  ?  " 

**  Master  Simon  Sneed." 
10*  . 


114  POOR   AND    PROUD,    OB 

"  Sneed  :  Sneed  ?  "  mused  the  mayor. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  Master  Simon  Sneed." 

"  Master  ?     What  is  he  ?     A  schoolmaster  ?  " 

"  O,  no,  sir.  Every  body  calls  him  master.  H<i 
keeps  store." 

"  Sneed  ?  I  never  heard  the  name  before.  Where 
is  his  store  ?  " 

"  In  Washington  Street.  It  says  Sands  &  Co.  on 
the  sign." 

"  O,  you  mean  the  boy  that  makes  the  fires,  sweeps 
out,  and  does  the  errands.  I  remember  him  now," 
said  the  mayor,  laughing  heartily  at  poor  Katy's  ac 
count  of  Simon.  "  I  never  heard  his  name  before  ;  but 
he  is  the  oldest  boy  of  his  age  I  ever  saw." 

"  He  was  very  kind  to  me." 

"No  doubt  he  is  a  very  good  boy ;  but  I  supposed 
from  your  account  of  him  that  he  was  a  member  of 
the  firm." 

4<  Master  Simon  says  the  firm  would  not  be  able  to 
get  along  without  him,"  replied  Katy,  who  began  to 
bave  some  doubts  whether  Simon  was  so  great  a  m;iD 
as  he  had  represented  himself  to  be. 

"  Master   Simon    is   very  kind  to   stay  with  their, 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    KEDBUKN.  115 

then,  and  I  hope  the  Messrs.  Sands  will  properly 
appreciate  his  merit.  Now,  Katy,"  continued  the 
mayor,  who  had  been  writing  while  he  questioned 
his  visitor,  "you  may  take  this  note  to  the  City  Hall, 
and  deliver  it  to  the  city  marshal  :  he  will  do  all  he 
can  to  recover  your  lost  treasure." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Katy,  as  she  took  the 
note. 

"  Now,  good  by,  Katy,  and  I  hope  you  will  always 
be  as  good  as  your  candy  is." 

"  I  will  try  ;  good  by,  sir  ;  "  and  she  left  the  li 
brary  and  passed  down  stairs. 

John  let  her  out  very  civilly,  and  seemed  very 
grateful  to  her  that  she  had  not  exposed  his  rudeness. 
She  hastened  to  the  City  Hall,  sure  almost  of  re 
covering  the  watch,  and  gladdening  her  mother  with 
the  sight  of  it  on  her  return  home. 

Simon  Sneed,  after  parting  with  Katy,  had  felt  a 
little  uneasy  in  relation  to  the  watch.  He  was  jeal 
ous  of  his  own  credit,  for  he  foresaw  that  Katy  could 
not  very  well  avoid  telling  the  mayor  that  he  had 
been  with  her  at  the  time  of  the  unfortunate  transac 
tion.  Besides,  he  did  not  exactly  like  the  idea  of 


11  P.  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

Katy's  going  to  the  mayor  at  all.  Katy  Red  burn 
going  to  see  the  mayor  !  By  and  by  every  bod? 
would  know  his  honor,  and  there  would  be  no  glory 
in  being  acquainted  with  him ! 

His  conscience  seemed  to  reprove  him  because  he 
had  done  nothing  towards  the  recovery  of  the  watch. 
What  would  his  friend  the  mayor  say  if  Katy  should 
happen  to  tell  him  of  his  neglect  ? 

"  Here  I  am,"  said  Master  Simon  to  himself,  as  he 
entered  the  store,  "a  person  of  influence,  enjoying 
the  friendship  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city,  and 
have  not  exerted  my  influence,  or  used  my  powerful 
friend,  to  redress  the  injury  which  this  poor  girl  has 
received.  I  will  correct  my  error  at  once,  for  if  the 
mayor  should  happen  to  invite  me  to  dinner  some 
time,  very  likely  he  would  reproach  me  for  my  neglect." 

Having  thus  resolved  to  preserve  his  credit  with 
the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city,  there  was  fortunately 
a  lull  in  the  waves  of  the  Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.'s  af 
fairs  which  enabled  him  to  he  absent  for  half  an  hour 
without  serious  injury  to  their  business.  He  has 
tened  to  the  pawnbroker's  at  wlr.ch  the  robbery  had 
been  committed. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  RKDBURN-     117 

"  I  presume  you  know  me,  sir  ?  "  said  Simon. 

"  I  haven't  that  honor,"  replied  the  broker. 

"  Perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  recall  the  circum 
stance  of  a  little  girl  presenting  herself  here  with  a 
silver  watch." 

"  Well,  I  do." 

"  I  was  with  her." 

"  TKm  I  suppose  you  helped  her  steal  it." 

4i  Such  an  insinuation,  sir,  is  unworthy  a  gentle 
man.  I  have  come,  sir,  with  a  benevolent  purpose, 
as  1  came  before.  In  half  an  hour  the  history  of  that 
transaction  will  be  conveyed  to  the  mayor,  who,  al 
low  me  to  inform  you,  is  my  friend." 

"  Your  friend !  "  sneered  the  broker,  who  was  not 
particularly  impressed  by  the  magnificent  manners 
and  the  magnificent  speech  of  Master  Simon. 

"  The  little  girl  has  just  gone  with  a  note  from 
Mrs.  Gordon,  of  Temple  Street,  to  seek  redress  of  the 
mayor.  I  doubt  not  you  will  be  prosecuted  at  once. 
You  have  an  opportunity  to  save  yourself." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  you  young  puppy  ?  " 
eaid  the  broker,  angrily.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say  I 
stole  the  watch  ?  " 


H8  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  By  nc  means  ;  only  that  you  took  what  did  not 
belong  to  you,"  replied  Master  Simon,  blandly. 

"  Get  out  of  my  shop  !  " 

"  Understand  me,  sir  ;  I  come  as  your  friend." 

'*  You  are  a  fool,  I  believe." 

"  You  have  an  undoubted  right  to  your  opinion, 
as  I  have  to  mine  ;  but  if  you  do  not  restore  the 
watch  within  half  an  hour,  you  will  be  arrested  for 
stealing  —  I  beg  your  pardon,  for  taking  what  did 
not  belong  to  you." 

There  was  something  in  the  earnest  manner  of  Si 
mon  which  arrested  the  attention  of  the  broker,  in 
spite  of  the  former's  high-flown  speech.  He  was 
satisfied  that  something  had  been  done,  and  he  was 
disposed  to  avoid  any  unpleasant  consequences. 

"  I  spoke  to  a  policeman  about  the  watch,"  said 
the  man.  "  I  told  him  I  had  it,  and  if  he  found  that 
such  a  watch  had  been  stolen,  it  could  be  found  at 
my  shop." 

"  And  if  he  did  not  find  that  such  a  watch  had 
been  stolen,  you  meant  to  keep  it  yourself,"  an 
swered  Master  Simon,  whose  earnestness  made  him 
forget  for  a  moment  to  use  his  high-flown  words, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATT  REDBURN.      119 

"  Keep  a  civil  tongue  in  your  head,"  growled  the 
broker.  "  I  notified  the  police  that  I  had  it ;  that's 
enough." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  ;  I  will  ask  my  friend  the  mayor 
about  it ;  "  and  Simon  moved  towards  the  door. 

**  Stop  a  moment." 

"  Can't  stop  now." 

"  Here  !  I  will  go  up  to  the  city  marshal  with 
you.  May  be  I  made  a  mistake  in  keeping  the 
watch  ;  but  if  I  did,  it  was  only  to  prevent  it  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  some  one  less  scrupulous 
than  myself." 

"Do  I  look  like  a  thief?"  asked  Master  Simon, 
indignantly. 

"  It  don't  do  to  judge  by  appearances,"  replied  the 
broker,  locking  his  shop  door,  and  walking  towards 
the  City  Hall  with  Simon.  "  There  are  some  very 
respectable  looking  thieves  about." 

Master  Simon  Sneed  was  satisfied  with  this  expla 
nation.  He  did  not  care  to  quarrel  with  any  one 
who  acknowledged  his  respectability.  In  a  few  mo 
ments  they  reached  the  City  Hall,  and  ascended  the 
stone  steps  to  the  vestibule.  As  they  did  so,  Katy 
entered  from  the  opposite  door. 


2  POOR    AND    PKOTJT),    OH 

"  How  glad  I  am  to  find  you,  Master  Simon  !  " 
exclaimed  she.  "  Can  you  tell  me  where  the  citj 
marshal's  office  is  ?  " 

"  Here  it  is,  Katy,"  replied  Simon,  pointing  to  the 
door.  "  But  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  have  got  a  note  for  the  city  marshal.  The 
mayor  gave  it  to  me." 

"  You  hear  that,  sir,"  said  Master  Simon  to  the 
broker,  with  becoming  dignity.     "  This,  Katy,  is  the 
man  that  has  your  silver  watch  ;    and  he   has  con- 
Rented  to  deliver  it  up  to  the  rightful  owner." 
tk  Let  me  see  the  note,"  said  the  broker. 
"  No,    I    won't,"     replied    Katy,    pretty    sharply. 
w  You    are   a   naughty  man,  and  I  won't   trust   you 
with  it." 

""But  I  will  give  you  the  watch." 
"  Give  it  to    me,  and  then  I  will   show  you  the 
note,"  replied  Katy,  who  was  thinking  more  of  get 
ting    the   precious   relic  than  of  having   the    broker 
punished. 

The  broker  took  the  watch  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  it  to  her,  and  in  return  she  produced  the 
mayor's  note. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN.  121 

"  1  suppose  there  is  no  need  of  your  delivering 
this  note  now  ?  "  continued  the  broker,  with  a  cun 
ning  smile. 

"  No  ;  I  don't  care  any  thing  about  it,  now  that  I 
nave  got  the  watch,"  replied  Katy,  rejoiced  beyond 
measure  to  recover  the  treasure. 

"  Well,  then,  I  am  somewhat  acquainted  with  the 
marshal,  and  I  will  hand  him  the  note,  and  explain 
the  circumstances.  He  will  be  perfectly  satisfied." 

Katy  didn't  care  whether  he  was  satisfied  or  not, 
so  long  as  she  had  the  watch.  But  the  broker  en 
tered  the  marshal's  office,  and  they  could  not.  see 
him  put  the  note  in  his  pocket. 

"  I  am  so  glad  I  got  it !  "  exclaimed  Katy. 

*'  I  doubt  whether  you  could  have  recovered  it  if 
I  had  not  used  my  influence  in  your  favor,"  re 
marked  Simon,  complacently.  "  I  went  to  his  office, 
and  assured  him  my  friend  the  mayor  had  already 
taken  the  matter  in  hand.  I  talked  pretty  severely 
to  him,  and  he  got  frightened.  After  all,  the  best 
way  is  to  use  very  pointed  language  to  these  fel 
lows." 

"  I  thank  you  very  much,  Master  Simon ;  and  I 
11 


122  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

» 

hope  I  shall  be  able  to  do  something  for  you  some 
time." 

But  Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.'s  affairs  were  suffering, 
perhaps,  and  Simon  hastened  back  to  the  store,  ana 
Katy  ran  home  to  cheer  her  mother  with  the  sight  01 
the  recovered  relic. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  XA1Y  REDBURN.     123 


CHAPTER    X. 

KJLTY,    IN    DISTRESS,    FINDS    A    CHAMPION. 

Now  that  she  had  recovered  the  precious  watch, 
Katy  had  nothing  to  engage  her  attention  but  the 
business  of  selling  candy.  The  success  that  had  at 
tended  her  forenoon's  exertions  was  gratifying  be 
yond  her  expectations,  and  she  felt  as  though  she 
had  already  solved  the  problem ;  that  she  was  not 
only  willing  but  able  to  support  her  mother.  She 
had  originated  a  great  idea,  and  she  was  proud  of  it. 

Just  as  soon,  therefore,  as  she  had  told  her 
mother  all  about  the  recovery  of  the  watch,  she  pre 
pared  another  tray  of  candy,  resolved  to  sell  the 
whole  of  it  before  she  returned.  Her  mother  tried 
to  induce  her  to  stay  in  the  house  and  rest  herself, 
but  her  impatience  to  realize  the  fruits  of  her  grand 
idea  would  not  permit  her  to  remain  inactive  a  sin 
gle  hour. 


124  POOH    AND    PROUD,    OH 

"Now,  mother,  I  shall  sell  all  this  candy  before 
dark  ;  so  don't  be  uneasy  about  me.  I  am  going  to 
make  lots  of  money,  and  you  shall  have  every  thing 
you  want  in  a  few  weeks,"  said  Katy,  as  she  put  on 
ner  bonnet. 

"  I  wish  you  would  stay  at  home,  and  rest  your 
self ;  you  have  done  enough  for  one  day." 

"  I  am  not  tired  a  bit,  mother ;  I  feel  just  as  if  I 
could  walk  a  hundred  miles." 

"  That's  because  you  have  got  a  new  notion  in 
your  head.  I  am  afraid  you  will  be  sick,  and  then 
\\  hat  should  we  do  ?  " 

"  O,  I  shan't  get  sick  ;  I  promise  you  I  won't," 
replied  Katy,  as  she  left  the  room. 

Unfortunately  for  the  little  candy  merchant  it  wag 
Wednesday  afternoon,  and  as  the  schools  did  not 
keep,  there  were  a  great  many  boys  in  the  street, 
and  many  of  them  were  very  rude,  naughty  boys. 
When  she  passed  up  the  court,  some  of  them  called 
out  to  her,  and  asked  her  where  she  was  going  with 
all  that  candy.  She  took  no  notice  of  them,  for  they 
spoke  very  rudely,  and  were  no  friends  of  hers, 
Among  them  was  Johnny  Grippen,  whose  acquaint- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     125 

noe  the  reader  made  on  the  pier  of  South  Boston 
bridge.  This  young  ruffian  led  half  a  dozen  others 
down  the  court  in  pursuit  of  her,  for  possibly  thej 
were  not  satisfied  with  the  cavalier  manner  in  which 
Katy  had  treated  them. 

"  Where  you  going  with  all  that  candy  ?  "  re 
peated  the  juvenile  bully,  when  he  overtook  her  in 
Essex  Street. 

"  I  am  going  to  sell  it,"  replied  Katy,  finding  she 
could  not  escape  them. 

"  Give  us  a  junk,  will  you  ?  "  said  Johnny. 

"  I  can't  give  it  away ;  I  am  going  to  sell  it,  to  get 
money  for  my  mother." 

"  Won't  you  give  a  feller  a  piece  ?  " 

"  I  can't  now  ;  perhaps  I'll  give  you  some  another 
time." 

Katy's  heart  beat  violently,  for  she  was  very  much 
alarmed,  knowing  that  Johnny  had  not  followed  her 
for  nothing.  As  she  made  her  firm  but  conciliatory 
reply,  she  moved  on,  hoping  they  would  not  attempt 
to  annoy  her.  It  was  a  vain  hope,  for  Johnny  kept 
close  to  her  side,  his  eyes  fixed  wistfully  on  the 
tempting  array  of  sweets  she  carried. 
11  * 


126  POOR    AND    PKOUD,    OB 

•*  Come,  don't  be  stingy,  Katy,"  continued  Johnny 

"  I  don't  mean  to  be  ;  but  I  don't  think  I  owe 
you  any  thing,"  replied  Katy,  gathering  courage  in 
her  desperate  situation. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  demanded  the 
little  ruffian,  as  he  placed  himself  in  front  of  her,  and 
thus  prevented  her  further  progress. 

*'  Don't  stop  me  ;  I'm  in  a  hurry,"  said  Katy. 

"  Gi'  me  some  candy,  then." 

"  No,  I  won't ! "  answered  Katy,  losing  her  pa 
tience. 

"  Won't  you  ?  " 

Johnny  made  a  dive  at  the  tray,  with  the  intention 
of  securing  a  portion  of  the  candy  ;  but  Katy  adroitly 
dodged  the  movement,  and  turning  up  a  narrow  al 
ley  way,  ran  off.  Johnny  was  not  to  be  balked,  and 
followed  her  ;  and  then  she  found  she  had  made  a 
bad  mistake  in  getting  off  the  street,  where  thero 
were  no  passers-by  to  interfere  in  her  favor. 

"  Johnny !  "  shouted  one  of  the  bully's  compau 
'ons.  "Johnny,  Tom  Howard  is  coming." 

«'  Let  him  come  !  "  replied  Johnny,  doggedly. 

He  did  not  half  like  the  insinuation  conveyed   in 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     127 

the  words  of  his  associates  ;  for  to  tell  him,  under 
the  circumstances,  that  Tommy  was  coming,  was  as 
much  as  to  say  he  was  afraid  of  him.  Now,  as  we 
have  said  before,  Johnny  Grippen  was  a  "  fighting 
character,"  and  had  a  reputation  to  maintain.  He 
gloried  in  the  name  of  being  able  to  whip  any  boy 
of  his  size  in  the  neighborhood.  He  was  always 
ready  to  fight,  and  had,  perhaps,  given  some  hard 
knocks  in  his  time ;  but  he  sustained  his  character 
rather  by  his  talent  for  bullying,  than  by  any  con 
quests  he  had  won.  On  the  whole,  he  was  a  misera 
ble,  contemptible  little  bruiser,  whom  no  decent  boy 
could  love  or  respect.  He  talked  so  big  about 
"  black  eyes,"  "  bloody  noses,"  and  "  smashed 
heads,"  that  few  boys  cared  to  dispute  his  title  to 
the  honors  he  had  assumed.  Probably  some  who 
felt  able  to  contest  the  palm  with  him,  did  not  cara 
to  'dirty  their  fingers  upon  the  bullying  cub. 

Sensible  people,  whether  men  or  boys,  invariably 
despise  the  "  fighting  character,"  b<  he  young  or  old. 
Nine  times  out  of  ten  he  is  both  a  knave  and  a  fool, 
a  coward  and  a  bully. 

O&  the  other  hand,  Tommy  Howard  was  one  of 


128  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

those  hearty,  whole-souled  boys,  who  are  the  real 
lions  of  the  play  ground.  He  was  not  a  "  fighting 
character ; "  and  being  a  sensible  boy,  he  had  a 
hearty  contempt  for  Johnny  Grippen.  He  was  not 
afraid  of  him,  and  though  he  never  went  an  inch  out 
of  his  way  to  avoid  a  fight  with  him,  it  so  happened 
they  had  never  fought.  He  was  entirely  indifferent 
to  his  threats,  and  had  no  great  opinion  of  his  cour 
age.  Johnny  had  "  stumped  "  him  to  fight,  and  even 
taken  off  his  coat  and  dared  him  to  come  ;  but  Tom 
my  would  laugh  at  him,  tell  him  to  put  on  his  coat 
or  he  would  catch  cold  ;  and,  contrary  to  the  general 
opinion  among  boys,  no  one  ever  thought  the  less  of 
him  for  the  true  courage  he  exhibited  on  these  oc 
casions. 

Johnny  did  not  like  to  be  told  that  Tommy  was 
coming,  for  it  reminded  him  that,  as  the  king  bully 
of  the  neighborhood,  one  of  his  subjects  was  uncon- 
quered  and  rebellious.  But  Johnny  had  discretion  — 
and  bullies  generally  have  it.  He  did  not  like  that 
cool,  independent  way  of  the  refractory  vassal ;  it 
warned  him  to  be  cautious. 

•'What's  the   matter,  Katy?"    asked  Tommy,  as 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBUrty.  12<J 

he  came  with  quick  pace  up  the  court,  without  deign 
ing  to  cast  even  a  glance  at  the  ruffian  who  menaced 
her. 

"  Stand  by,  fellers,  and  see  fair  play,  and  I'll 
lick  him  now,"  said  Johnny,  in  a  low  tone,  to  his 
companions. 

"  He  won't  let  me  go,"  replied  Katy,  pointing  to 
her  assailant. 

"  Go  ahead,  Katy  ;  don't  mind  him." 

"  Won't  you  give  me  some  candy  ?  "  said  Jchnny, 
stepping  up  before  her  again. 

"  Go  ahead,  Katy,"  repeated  Tommy,  placing  him 
self  between  her  and  the  bully.  "  Don't  mind  him, 
Katy." 

As  she  advanced,  Johnny  pushed  forward,  and 
made  another  dive  at  the  tray,  but  Katy's  champion 
caught  him  by  the  arm  and  pulled  him  away. 

**  You  mind  out !  "  growled  the  bully,  doubling  up 
his  fists,  and  placing  himself  in  the  most  approved 
attitude,  in  front  of  the  unwhipped  vassal. 

"  Go  ahead,  Katy ;  clear  out  as  fast  as  you  can." 
said  Tommy,  who,  though  his  bosom  swelled  with 
indignation,  still  preserved  his  wonted  coolness  :  and 


130  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

it  was  evident  to  the  excited  spectators  that  he  did 
net  intend  to  "  mind  out." 

"  Come  on,  if  you  want  to  fight !  "  shouted  John 
ny,  brandishing  his  fists. 

"  I  don't  want  to  fight ;  but  you  are  a  mean,  dirty 
blackguard,  or  you  wouldn't  have  treated  a  girl  like 
that,"  replied  Tommy,  standing  as  stiff  as  a  stake 
before  the  bully. 

"  Say  that  again,  and  I'll  black  your  eye  for  you." 
"  Once   is  enough,  if  you  heard  me  ;   but  I  will 
tell  your  father  about  it." 

"  Will  you  ?  Just  say  that  again." 
Somehow,  it  often  happens  that  bullies  want  a  per 
son  to  say  a  thing  over  twice,  from  which  we  infer 
that  they  must  be  very  deaf  or  very  stupid.  Tommy 
would  not  repeat  the  offensive  remark,  and  Johnny's 
supporters  began  to  think  he  was  not  half  so  anxious 
to  fight  as  he  seemed,  which  was  certainly  true.  I 
have  no  doubt,  if  they  had  been  alone,  he  would 
have  found  a  convenient  excuse  for  retiring  from  the 
field,  leaving  it  unsullied  by  a  black  eye  or  a  bloody 


young  friends  will  excuse  me  foi  digressing  so 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     131 

far  as  to  say  that,  in  more  than  a  dozen  years  with 
boys,  in  school  and  out,  I  have  never  heard  of  such  a 
thing  as  two  boys  getting  up  a  fight  and  having  it 
out  alone.  There  must  be  a  crowd  of  bruisers  and 
44  scallewags  "  around,  to  keep  up  the  courage  of  the 
combatants.  Therefore,  those  who  look  on  are  just 
as  bad  as  those  who  fight,  for  without  their  presence 
the  fight  could  not  be  carried  through. 

Tommy  Howard  had  said  all  he  had  to  say,  and 
was  therefore  ready  to  depart.  He  turned  to  do  so, 
and  walked  several  steps  down  the  alley,  though  he 
kept  one  eye  over  his  shoulder  to  guard  against  ac 
cidents. 

"  Hit  him,  Johnny  !  "  cried  one  of  the  vagabond 
troop  that  followed  in  the  train  of  the  bully. 

u  He  darsent  fight,"  replied  Johnny. 

"  Nor  you,  nuther,"  added  another  of  the  sup 
porters. 

This  was  too  much  for  Johnny.  It  cut  him  to  tho 
quick,  and  he  could  not  stand  it.  If  he  did  not 
thresh  Tommy  now,  his  reputation  would  be  entirely 
ruined. 

"  Darsen't    I  r "    exclaimed    he.       "  Come    back 


132  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

here  ; "  but  as  Tommy  did  not  come,  he  ran  IK 
behind  him,  and  aimed  a  blo*v  at  the  side  of  h:i 
head. 

Katy's  intrepid  defender,  who  had  perhaps  read  in 
Borne  Fourth  of  July  oration  that  "  eternal  vigilance 
is  the  price  of  liberty,''  was  not  to  be  surprised,  and 
facing  about,  he  warded  off  the  blow.  Johnny's  im 
perilled  reputation  rendered  him  desperate.  He  had 
gone  too  far  to  recede,  and  he  went  into  action  with 
all  the  energy  and  skill  of  a  true  bruiser.  Tommy 
was  now  fully  roused,  and  his  blows,  which  were 
strictly  in  self-defence,  fell  rapidly  and  heavily  on  the 
head  of  his  assailant.  But  I  am  not  going  to  give 
my  young  readers  the  particulars  of  the  fight ;  and  I 
would  not  have  let  Tommy  engage  in  such  a  scene, 
were  it  not  to  show  up  Johnny  as  he  was,  and  finish 
the  portrait  of  him  which  I  had  outlined  ;  to  show 
the  difference  between  the  noble,  generous,  brave, 
and  true-hearted  boy,  and  the  little  bully,  whom  au 
my  young  friends  have  seen  and  despised. 

In  something  less  than  two  minutes,  Johnny  Grip- 
pen,  after  muttering  "  foul  play  "  backed  out  with  a 
bloody  nose,  as  completely  wmpped,  and  as  thorough- 


THE  FORTUNES  Of  KATY  REDBURN.     133 

ly  "  cowed  down,"  as  though  lie  had  been  fighting 
with  a  royal  Bengal  tiger.  His  supremacy  was  at  an 
end,  and  there  was  danger  that  some  other  bold  fel 
low  might  take  it  into  his  head  to  thresh  the  donkey 
after  the  lion's  skin  had  been  stripped  from  his 
shoulders. 

"  If  you  are  satisfied  now,  I'll  g  >  about  my  busi 
ness,"  said  Tommy,  as  he  gazed  with  mingled  pity 
and  contempt  upon  his  crest-fallen  assailant. 

"You  don't  fight  fair,"  grumbled  Johnny,  who 
could  not  account  for  his  defeat  in  any  other  way. 
"  If  you're  a  mind  to  fight  fair,  I'll  try  it  again  with 
you  some  time." 

"  I  don't  fight  for  the  fun  of  it.  I  only  fight  when 
some  cowardly  bully  like  you  comes  at  me,  and  I 
can't  help  myself.  When  you  feel  like  whipping  me 
again,  you  needn't  stop  to  let  me  know  it  beforehand. 
But  I  will  tell  you  this  much  :  if  you  ever  put  your 
hand  on  Katy  Redburn,  or  meddle  with  her  in  any 
way,  I  promise  to  pound  you  as  handsomely  as  I 
know  how,  fair  or  foul,  the  very  next  time  I  meet 
you,  if  it  isn't  for  sev?n  years.  Just  bear  that  in 
mind." 


134  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

Johnny  made  no  reply  ;  he  was  not  in  a  condition 
to  make  a  reply,  and  the  victor  in  the  conquest  de 
parted,  leaving  the  bully  to  explain  his  defeat  as  best 
he  could  to  his  admirers  and  supporters. 

"  He  did  not  hurt  you  —  did  he  ?  "  asked  Katy,  as 
Tommy  joined  her  at  the  foot  of  the  alley,  where  she 
had  been  anxiously  waiting  the  result  of  the  en 
counter. 

"  Not  a  bit,  Katy.  He  talks  very  loud,  but  he  is 
a  coward.  I'm  sorry  I  had  to  thresh  him,  though  I 
think  it  will  do  him  good." 

"  I  was  afraid  he'd  hurt  you.  You  were  very  kind 
to  save  me  from  him,  Tommy.  I  shall  never  forget 
you,  as  long  as  I  live,  and  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to 
do  something  for  you  one  of  these  days." 

"  O,  don't  mind  that,  Katy.  He  is  an  ugly  fellow, 
and  I  wouldn't  stand  by  and  see  him  insult  a  girl. 
But  I  must  go  now.  I  told  Johnny  if  he  ever  med 
dled  with  you  again  I  should  give  him  some  ;  if  he 
does,  just  let  me  know." 

**  I  hope  he  won't  again,"  replied  Katy,  as  Tommy 
moved  towards  home. 

This  was  Katy's  first  day  in  mercantile  life  ;  it  hod 


THE  FOBTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     135 

been  full  of  incidents,  and  she  feared  he/  path  might 
be  a  thorny  one.  But  her  light  heart  soon  triumphed 
over  doubts  and  fears,  and  when  she  reached  Wash 
ington  Street,  she  was  as  enthusiastic  as  ever,  and  as 
ready  for  a  trade. 


136  POOR    AND    PROUD.    OB 


CHAPTER    XI. 

XATY    MEETS    WITH    EXTBAORDINAKY    SUCCESS. 

"  BUY  some  candy  ?  "  said  Katy  to  the  first  gentle* 
man  she  met. 

He  did  not  even  deign  ',o  glance  at  her ;  and  five 
or  six  attempts  to  sell  a  stick  of  candy  were  failures ; 
but  when  she  remembered  the  success  that  had  fol 
lowed  her  disappointment  in  the  morning,  she  did  not 
lose  her  courage.  Finding  that  people  in  the  street 
would  not  buy,  she  entered  a  shop  where  the  clerks 
seemed  to  be  at  leisure,  though  she  did  not  do  so 
without  thinking  of  the  rude  manner  in  which  she 
had  been  ejected  from  a  store  in  the  forenoon. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "  said  she  to  a  good-natured 
young  gentleman,  who  was  leaning  over  his  counter 
waiting  for  a  customer. 

44  Ho\v  do  you  sell  it  ?  " 
*  Cent   a   stick  ;   it  is  very  nice.     I  sold  fourteen 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    RED13URN.  137 

sticks  of  i;  to  the  mayor  this  forenoon.     He  said  it 
was  good." 

"  You  don't  say  so  ?  Did  he  give  you  a  testimo 
nial  ? " 

"  No  ;  he  gave  me  half  a  dollar." 

The  clerk  laughed  heartily  at  Katy's  misapprehen 
sion  of  his  word,  and  his  eye  twinkled  with  mischief. 
It  was  plain  that  he  was  not  a  great  admirer  of  mo 
lasses  candy,  and  that  he  only  wanted  to  amuse  him 
self  at  Katy's  expense. 

"  You  know  what  they  do  with  quack  medicines  — 
don't  you : " 

41  Yes,  I  do  ;  some  folks  are  fools  enough  to  take 
them,"  replied  Katy,  smartly. 

"  That's  a  fact ;  but  you  don't  understand  me. 
Dr.  Swindlehanger,  round  the  corner,  would  give  the 
mayor  a  hundred  dollars  to  say  his  patent  elixir  is 
good.  Now,  if  you  could  only  get  the  mayor's  name 
on  a  paper  setting  forth  the  virties  of  your  candy,  I 
dare  say  you  could  sell  a  thousand  sticks  in  a  day. 
Why  don't  you  ask  him  for  such  a  paper  ?  " 

"  I   don't  want  any  paper,  except  to  wrap  up  my 
candy  in.     But  you  don't  want  to  buy  any  candy,  I 
12* 


138  POOR    AND    PBOUD,    OK 

see ;  "  and  Katy  moved  towards  some  more  clerks  at 
the  other  end  of  the  store. 

"  Yes,  I  do  ;  stop  a  minute.  I  want  to  buy  sis 
sticks  for  my  grandchildren  ?  " 

"  For  what  ?  " 

"  For  my  grandchildren." 

"  You  are  making  fun  of  me,"  said  Katy,  who  could 
gee  this,  though  the  young  man  was  so  pleasant  and 
so  funny,  she  could  not  be  offended  with  him.  "  I 
don't  believe  your  mother  would  like  it,  if  she  should 
hear  you  tell  such  a  monstrous  story." 

The  young  man  bit  his  lip.  Perhaps  he  had  a  kind 
mother  who  had  taught  him  never  to  tell  a  lie,  even 
in  jest.  He  quickly  recovered  his  humor,  however, 
though  it  was  evident  that  Katy's  rebuke  had  not 
been  without  its  effect. 

"  For  how  much  will  you  sell  me  the  six  sticks  ?  " 
continued  the  clerk. 

"  For  six  cents." 

"  But  that  is  the  retail  price  ;  when  you  sell  goods 
at  wholesale  you  ought  not  to  ask  so  much  for  them." 

"  You  shall  have  them  for  five  cents  then,"  replied 
Katy,  struck  with  the  force  of  the  suggestion. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    RETURN.  139 

•«  t  can't  afford  to  give  so  much  as  that.  I  am  a 
poor  man.  I  have  to  go  to  the  theatre  twice  a  week, 
and  that  costs  me  a  dollar.  Then  a  ride  Sunday  af 
ternoon  costs  me  three  dollars.  So  you  see  I  don't 
have  much  money  to  spend  upon  luxuries." 

"  I  hope  you  don't  go  out  to  ride  Sundays,"  said 
Katy. 

"  But  I  do." 

•'  What  does  your  mother  say  to  it." 
The  clerk  bit  his  lip  again.  He  did  not  like  these 
all asions  to  his  mother,  who  perhaps  lived  far  away 
in  the  country,  and  had  taught  him  to  "  remember 
the  Sabbath  day  and  keep  it  holy."  Very  likely 
his  conscience  smote  him,  as  he  thought  of  her  and 
her  blessed  teachings  in  the  far-off  home  of  his  child 
hood. 

"  I  will  give  you  two  cents,"  said  the  clerk. 
"  I   can't  take  that ;  it  would  hardly  pay  for  the 
molasses,  to  say  nothing  of  firewood  and  labor." 
"  Call  it  three  cents,  then." 

"  No,  sir ;  the  wholesale  price  is  five  cents  for  six 
sticks." 

*«  But  I  am  poor." 


HO  POOR    AND    PKODD,    OK 

•'  You  wouldn't  be  poor  if  you  saved  up  you* 
money,  and  kept  the  Sabbath.  Your  mother " 

"  There,  there !  that's  enough.  I  will  take  a 
dozen  sticks ! "  exclaimed  the  young  man,  impa 
tiently  interrupting  her. 

"  A  dozen  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  dozen  ;  and  there  are  twelve  cents." 

"  But  I  only  ask  ten." 

"  No  matter  ;  give  me  the  candy,  and  take  the 
money,"  he  replied,  fearful,  it  may  be,  that  she 
would  again  allude  to  his  mother. 

Katy  counted  out  the  sticks,  wrapped  them  up  in 
a  paper,  and  put  the  money  in  her  pocket.  If  she 
had  stopped  at  the  door  to  study  the  young  man's 
face,  she  might  have  detected  a  shadow  of  uneasiness 
and  anxiety  upon  it.  He  was  a  very  good-hearted, 
but  rather  dissolute,  young  man,  and  the  allusions 
she  had  made  to  his  mother  burned  like  fire  in  his 
heart,  for  he  had  neglected  her  counsels,  and  wan- 
dered  from  the  straight  road  in  which  she  had 
taught  him  to  walk.  If  she  could  have  followed 
him  home,  and  into  the  solitude  of  his  chamber, 
she  could  have  seen  him  open  his  desk,  and  write 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     141 

a  long  letter  to  his  distant  mother  —  a  duty  he  had 
too  long  neglected.  We  may  not  follow  the  for 
tunes  of  this  young  man,  but  if  we  could,  we  might 
see  how  a  few  words,  fitly  spoken,  even  by  the  lips 
of  an  innocent  youth,  will  sometimes  produce  a 
powerful  impression  on  the  character ;  will  some 
times  change  the  whole  current  of  a  life,  and 
reach  forward  to  the  last  day  of  existence. 

Katy,  all  unconscious  of  the  great  work  she  had 
done,  congratulated  herself  on  this  success,  and 
wished  she  might  find  a  few  more  such  customers. 
Glancing  into  the  shop  windows  as  she  passed 
along,  to  ascertain  whether  there  was  a  good  pros 
pect  for  her,  she  soon  found  an  inviting  field.  It 
was  a  crockery  ware  store  that  she  entered  this 
time,  and  there  were  several  persons  there  who 
seemed  not  to  be  very  busy. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ?  "  said  she,  presenting  the  tray 
to  the  first  person  she  met. 

"  Go  home  and  wash  your  face,"  was  the  ill- 
natured  response. 

Was  it  possible  she  had  come  out  with  a  dirty 
face?  No;  she  hat?  washed  herself  Ihe  last  thing 


H2  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

she  had  done.  It  is  true  her  clothes  were  shalby, 
there  was  many  a  patch  and  darn  upon  her  dress, 
and  its  colors  had  faded  out  like  the  "  last  rose 
of  summer  ;  "  but  tLen  the  dress  was  clean. 

"  Buy  some  candy  ? "  said  she  to  another,  with  a 
sudden  resolution  not  to  be  disturbed  by  the  rude 
ness  of  those  she  addressed. 

He  took  a  stick,  and  threw  down  a  cent,  with 
out  a  word.  One  more  did  her  a  similar  favor, 
and  she  left  the  store  well  satisfied  with  the  visit. 
Pretty  soon  she  came  to  a  large  piano-forte  manufac 
tory,  where  she  knew  that  a  great  many  men  were 
employed.  She  went  up  stairs  to  the  counting  room, 
where  she  sold  three  sticks,  and  was  about  to  enter 
the  work  room,  when  a  sign,  "  No  admittance  except 
on  business,"  confronted  her.  Should  she  go  on  ? 
Did  the  sign  refer  to  her  ?  She  had  business  there, 
but  perhaps  they  would  not  be  willing  to  admit 
that  her  business  was  very  urgent,  and  she  dreaded 
the  indignity  of  being  turned  out  again.  Her  mother 
had  told  her  there  was  always  a  right  way  and  a 
wrong  way.  It  certainly  was  not  right  to  enter  in 
the  face  of  a  positive  prohibition,  and  at  last  she 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURX.  143 

decided  M  return  to  the  office  and  ask  permission 
to  visit  the  workshop 

"  Please  may  I  go  into  the  workshop  ?  "  said  she, 
addressing  the  man  who  had  purchased  the  candy. 

"  Go  in  ?  why  not  ? "  replied  he,  placing  his  pen 
behind  his  ear,  and  looking  at  her  with  a  smile  of 
curiosity. 

"  Why,  it  says  on  the  door,  *  No  admittance  ex 
cept  on  business.'  " 

"  So  it  does.  Well,  I  declare,  you  have  got  an 
amount  of  conscience  beyond  your  station.  No  one 
thinks  of  taking  any  notice  of  that  sign.  Pedlera 
and  apple  men  go  in  without  a  question." 

"  I  thought  you  wouldn't  let  people  go  in." 

^  We  don't  like  to  have  visitors  there,  for  they 
sometimes  do  injury,  and  generally  take  off  the  at 
tention  of  the  men  from  their  work.  But  you  have 
got  so  much  conscience  about  the  matter,  that  you 
shall  not  only  go  in,  but  I  will  go  with  you,  and 
introduce  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir  ;  I  won't  give  you  all  that  trou 
ble.  I  can  introduce  myself." 

But  the  bookkeeper  led  the  way  to  the  door,  and 


144  POOR    AXD    PHOUD,    OR 

they  entered  a  large  room  in  which  a  great  many 
men  were  busily  at  work. 

"  Here  is  a  very  honest  little  girl,"  said  her  friend, 
"  who  has  the  very  best  molasses  candy  I  ever  ate. 
If  any  of  you  have  a  sweet  tooth,  or  any  children  at 
home,  I  advise  you  to  patronize  her." 

The  bookkeeper  laughed,  and  the  workmen 
laughed,  as  they  began  to  feel  in  their  pockets  for 
loose  change.  It  was  evident  that  the  friendly 
introduction  was  to  be  of  great  service  to  her. 
She  passed  along  from  one  man  to  another,  and 
almost  every  one  of  them  bought  two  or  three 
sticks  of  candy,  and  before  she  had  been  to  all  of 
them  her  stock  was  entirely  exhausted.  Katy  was 
astonished  at  her  good  fortune,  and  the  men  were 
all  exceedingly  good  natured.  They  seemed  dis 
posed  to  make  a  pleasant  thing  of  her  visit,  and  to 
give  her  a  substantial  benefit. 

"  Now,    my    little    girl,"    said    the    bookkeeper,   i 
"  when  you  wish  to  visit  the  workshop   again,  you 
may   enter  without  further   permission ;    and    I    am 
sure  the  men  will  all  be  very  glad  to  see  you." 

**  But  I  want  some  of  that  candy,"  said  one   of 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     145 

the  workmen.  "  My  little  girl  would  jump  to  get 
a  stick." 

"  Then  she  shall  have  some,"  replied  Katy,  "  for 
I  will  go  home  and  get  some  more  ; "  and  she  left 
the  building  and  hastened  home  for  a  further  sup 
ply  of  the  popular  merchandise. 

"  O  mother  !  I  have  sold  out  all  my  candy,  and  I 
want  a  lot  more  !  "  exclaimed  she,  is  she  rushed 
into  the  room,  full  of  excitement  and  enthusiasm. 

"  Be  calm,  child ;  you  will  throw  yourself  into  a 
fever,"  replied  Mrs.  Redburn.  "  You  must  learn  to 
take  things  more  easily." 

"  O  dear !  I  have  only  twenty  sticks  left.  I  wish 
I  had  a  hundred,  for  I  am  sure  I  could  sell  them." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  fortunate  you  have  no  more." 

"  But  I  must  make  some  more  to-night  for  to 
morrow." 

"Don't  drive  round  so,  Katy.  Be  reasonable., 
and  don't  think  too  much  of  your  success." 

But   Katy  could   not   stop    to   argue   the  matter, 

though,  as  she  walked  along  the  street,  she  thought. 

of  what  her  mother  had  said,  and  tried  to  calm  the 

excitement  that,  agitated  her.     It  was  hard  work  U' 

13 


146  POOR   AND    PROUD,    OB 

keep  from  running  every  step  of  the  way  ;  but  hcl 
mother's  advice  must  be  heeded,  and  to  some  ex 
tent  she  succeeded  in  controlling  her  violent  im 
pulses.  As  it  was,  she  reached  the  piano-forte  man 
ufactory  quite  out  of  breath,  and  rushed  into  thw, 
work  room  as  though  she  had  come  on  an  errand  of 
vital  importance  to  its  occupants. 

It  required  but  a  few  minutes  to  dispose  of  her 
small  stock  of  candy.  The  workmen  all  hoped  she 
would  come  again,  and  she  departed  highly  elated  at 
her  success. 

"  There,  mother,  I  have  sold  all  the  candy.  What 
do  you  think  of  that  ? "  said  she,  as  she  entered 
her  mother's  room,  and  threw  off  her  bonnet  and 
shawl. 

"  You  have  done  very  well ;  I  had  no  idea  that 
you  could  sell  more  than  twenty  or  thirty  sticks  in 
a  day." 

"  It's  a  great  day's  work,  mother  ;  and  if  I  can  sell 
half  as  much  in  a  day,  I  shall  be  satisfied.  Don't 
you  think  I  shall  be  able  to  support  you  ?  " 

"At  this  rate  you  can  do  much  more  ;  but,  Katy 
I  tremble  for  you." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     1  4? 

"  Why,  mother  ?  " 

"  You  get  so  excited,  and  run  so,  I  am  afraid  if 
will  make  you  sick."  KoJtj ' 

"  O,  no,  it  won't,  mother.  I  feel  as  strong  as  a 
horse.  I  am  not  tired  in  the  least." 

"  You  don't  feel  so  now,  because  you  are  so  ex 
cited  by  your  success." 

"  I  shall  get  used  to  it  in  a  little  while." 

"  I  hope  so,  if  you  mean  to  follow  this  business." 

"  If  I  mean  to  ?  Why,  mother,  what  else  could  I 
do  to  make  so  much  money  ?  See  here  ; "  and  she 
poured  the  money  she  had  taken  upon  the  bed-quilt 
before  her  mother.  "  One  dollar  and  thirty-six  cents, 
mother!  Only  think  of  it!  But  I  won't  jump  so 
another  day ;  I  will  take  it  easy." 

"  I  wish  you  would." 

"I  will  try  very  hard;  but  you  can't  think 
how  happy  I  feel !  Dear  me  !  I  am  wasting  my 
time,  when  I  have  to  make  the  candy  for  to 
morrow." 

41  But,  Katy,  you  must  not  do  any  more  to-night 
Vou  will  certainly  be  sick." 

•*  I  must  make  it,  mother." 


148  POOB   AND    PROUD,    OB 

"  Your  hands  are  very  sore  now." 

««  They  are  better  ;  and  I  don't  feel  tired  a  bit." 

"  I  will  tell  you  what  you  may  do,  if  you  must 
make  the  candy  to-night.  When  you  have  got  the 
molasses  boiled,  you  may  ask  Mrs.  Colvin,  the  wash 
erwoman,  to  come  in  and  pull  it  for  you  ;  for  you  are 
not  strong  enough  to  do  it  yourself." 

« I  should  not  like  to  ask  her.  She's  a  poor  wo 
man,  and  it  would  be  just  the  same  as  begging  to 
ask  her  to  give  me  her  work." 

"  You  don't  understand  me,  Katy.  She  goes  out 
to  work  whenever  she  can  get  a  chance.  Her  price 
is  ten  cents  an  hour.  You  can  engage  her  for  one  01 
two  hours,  and  pay  her  for  her  labor.  This  is  the 
only  way  you  can  get  along  with  this  business." 
"I  will  do  that.  It  won't  take  more  than  an 

hour." 

Mrs.  Colvin  was  accordingly  engaged,  though  at 
first  she  positively  refused  to  be  paid  for  her  services ; 
but  when  Katy  told  her  she  should  want  her  for  one 
or  two  hours  every  day,  she  consented  to  the  arrange- 
ment.  Early  in  the  evening  the  candy  was  all  made, 
and  Katy's  day's  work  was  finished.  Notwithstand- 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KA.TY    REUBURN.  149 

ing  her  repeated  declaration  that  she  was  not  tired, 
the  bed  "  felt  good "  to  her,  and  she  slept  all  the 
moie  soundly  for  the  hard  work  and  the  good  deeda 
she  had  done. 


POOR    AND    PROUD     OU 


CHAPTER    Xll. 

KATY    PAYS    HER   DEBTS,  AND   TOMMY    GOES   TO    SEA, 

KATY'S  second  day's  sales,  though  not  so  large  as 
those  of  the  first  day,  were  entirely  satisfactory. 
The  profits,  after  paying  for  the  "  stock  "  and  for  the 
services  of  Mrs.  Colvin,  were  nearly  a  dollar,  and  her 
heart  beat  with  renewed  hope  at  this  continued  suc 
cess.  Her  grand  idea  hardly  seemed  like  an  experi 
ment  now,  for  she  had  proved  that  she  could  make 
good  candy,  and  that  people  were  willing  to  buy  the 
article.  She  met  with  about  the  same  treatment 
from  those  to  whom  she  offered  her  wares  :  one  spoke 
kindly,  and  purchased  by  wholesale,  and  another 
spoke  gruffly,  and  would  not  buy  even  a  single  stick. 
Here  she  was  driven  out  of  doors,  and  there  she  was 
petted,  and  made  large  sales. 

So  far  as  Katy's  person  and  manners  were  con 
cerned,  she  was  admirably  adapted  to  the  business 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBU&N.     lOl 

ihe  had  chosen.  She  was  rather  small  in  stature  foi 
(»ne  of  her  age,  but  she  was  very  well  formed,  and 
her  movements  were  agile  and  graceful.  Her  faco 
was  not  as  pretty  as  it  might  have  been,  but  her  ex 
pression  was  artless  and  winning.  Her  light  brown 
liair  hung  in  curls  upon  her  shoulders,  and  contrib 
uted  not  a  little  to  make  up  the  deficiency  in  what 
the  painters  and  sculptors  would  call  a  finely  chis 
elled  face. 

If  she  had  been  dressed  in  silk,  and  lace,  and  em 
broidery,  I  doubt  not  people  would  have  called  her 
pretty,  though  in  my  opinion  it  does  not  make  much 
difference  whether  she  was  pretty  or  not ;  for,  after 
all,  the  best  way  to  judge  of  a  person's  beauty  is  by 
the  old  standard,  "  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does." 
But  I  have  said  thus  much  about  Katy's  face  and 
form  in  order  to  explain  the  secret  of  her  great  suc 
cess  as  a  candy  merchant.  Hundreds  of  persons 
would  buy  a  stick  of  candy  of  a  little  girl  with  a 
pretty  face  and  a  graceful  form,  who  would  not 
do  so  of  one  less  attractive.  Though  she  was  well 
favored  in  this  respect,  I  believe  it  was  her  gentle, 
polite  manners,  her  sweet  voice,  made  sweet  by  a 


1,52  POOR    AND    PROUD.    (>K 

loving  heart,  that  contributed  most  to  her  success. 
But  abo-ve  all  the  accidents  of  a  good  form,  graceful 
movements,  brown  ringlets,  and  a  pleasing  address, 
she  prospered  in  trade  because  she  was  in  earnest, 
and  persevered  in  all  her  efforts.  A  person  cannot 
succeed  in  business  by  being  merely  good  looking, 
though  this  may  sometimes  be  of  much  assistance. 
It  is  patience,  perseverance,  energy,  and  above  all, 
integrity  and  uprightness,  that  lead  to  the  true 
success. 

Encouraged  by  her  prosperity,  Katy  continued  to 
sell  candy  with  about  the  same  result  as  had  cheered 
her  heart  on  the  first  two  days.  Her  profits,  how 
ever,  were  not  so  great  as  on  those  two  days,  and  did 
not  average  above  seventy-five  cents  a  day,  or  four 
dollars  and  a  half  a  week.  This  was  doing  exceed 
ingly  well,  and  she  had  every  reason  to  be  grateful 
tor  her  good  fortune. 

At  the  end  of  three  weeks,  rent  day  came  round 
again,  and  Dr.  Flynch  called  for  the  money.  To  hia 
utter  astonishment,  it  was  ready  for  him,  and  he  de 
parted  without  a  single  ill-natured  word,  though  this 
was,  perhaps,  because  he  had  a  wholesome  rogard  ibi 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    KEDBURN.  1 5i 

the  opinion  of  Mrs.  Gordon.  Two  weeks  later,  Katj 
found  that  her  savings  were  sufficient  to  enable  hex 
to  pay  the  month's  rent  for  which  Mrs.  Gordon  had 
given  a  receipt,  and  also  the  dollar  which  Grace 
had  loaned  her.  These  debts  had  pressed  heavily  on 
her  mind.  She  knew  that  they  were  regarded  as 
free  gifts,  and  her  pride  prompted  her  to  remove 
what  she  considered  a  stain  upon  her  character. 
Till  they  were  paid,  she  felt  like  a  beggar. 

Taking  her  money  one  day,  she  paid  a  visit  to 
Temple  Street.  Michael  opened  the  door,  and  re 
ceived  her  with  a  smile.  Knowing  she  was  in  favor 
with  his  mistress,  he  conducted  her  to  the  sitting 
room,  where  the  portraits  hung.  Those  roguish  eyes 
of  the  lady,  who  somewhat  resembled  her  mother, 
were  fixed  on  her  again.  She  was  sure  that  her 
mother  did  not  look  like  that  picture  then,  but  she 
was  equally  sure  that  she  had,  some  time  or  other, 
cast  just  such  a  glance  at  her.  The  expression  of  the 
lady  found  something  like  its  counterpart  in  her  mem 
ory.  Now,  her  mother  was  sick  and  sad  ;  she  seldom 
smiled.  But  some  time  she  must  have  been  a  young 
girl,  and  then  she  must  have  looked  like  that 


154  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

portrait.  She  felt  jast  like  asking  Mrs.  Gordon  if 
that  was  her  portrait,  but  she  did  not  dare  to  do  such 
a  thing.  While  she  was  attentively  watching  tne 
roguish  lady's  face,  her  kind  friend  entered  the  room, 
followed  by  Grace. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Katy  ? "  said  the  former,  with  a 
benevolent  smile. 

"  Quite  well,  I  thank  you,  ma'am.  I  hope  you 
will  excuse  me  for  coming  again,"  replied  she. 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  have  come." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  you  the  other  day,  and  wishing 
I  might  see  you,"  added  Grace  ;  "  for  the  mayor  told 
us  a  very  pretty  story  about  you." 

**  He  was  very  good  to  me  ;  and  I  never  shall  for 
get  him  or  you,"  answered  Katy,  warmly. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  come  to  get  another  receipt ; 
but  I  told  Dr.  Flynch  not  to  disturb  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Gordon, 

"  0,  no,  ma'am  —  I  didn't  come  for  that.  You 
were  too  kind  to  me  before,  and  I  have  come  now 
to  pay  you  for  that  month's  rent." 

"  Indeed  ? " 

•*  Yes,  ma'am ;  we  have  been  able  to  earn  monc} 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KA.TY    REDBURN.  153 

enough,  and  (  am  very  glad  that  1  can  pay  it,'  re 
plied  Katy,  taking  the  four  dollars  from  her  pocket. 
"  Here  it  is." 

"  No,  my  child ;  you  shall  keep  it.  I  will  not 
take  it." 

Katy's  cheeks  flushed,  for  she  did  not  feel  poor 
and  proud  then.  She  felt  rich  ;  that  is,  she  was  proud 
of  being  able  to  pay  all  she  owed,  and  she  did  not 
.like  to  be  thought  capable  of  accepting  a  gift  —  of 
being  the  recipient  of  charity.  But  she  knew  the 
hearts  of  her  kind  friends,  and  left  unspoken  the 
words  of  indignation  that  trembled  on  her  tongue. 

"  Please  to  take  the  money,  ma'am,"  said  she,  her 
cheeks  still  red  with  shame. 

"  No,  my  child  ;  you  are  a  good  girl ;  I  will  not 
take  your  money." 

"  I  shall  feel  very  bad  if  you  don't,  and  it  will 
make  my  mother  very  unhappy." 

44  Nay,  Katy,  you  must  not  be  too  proud." 

"  1  am  not  too  proud  to  ask  or  to  accept  a  favor, 
but  please  don't  make  me  feel  like  a  beggar." 

"  You  are  a  very  strange  child,"  said  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  Indeed  you  are,"  added  Grace. 


156  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

'•I  snail  not  feel  right,  if  you  don't  take  this 
money.  You  know  I  promised  to  pay  you  at  the 
time  you  gave  me  the  receipt." 

"  I  did  not  suppose  you  would  ;  that  is,  I  did  not 
think  you  would  be  able  to  pay  it.  Your  mother  haa 
got  well,  then  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am  ;  she  is  better,  but  she  does  not  sit 
up  any  yet." 

"  Then  how  did  you  get  this  money  ?  " 

"  I  earned  it." 

"  You ! » 

"  Yes,  ma'am  ;  selling  candy." 

44  Is  it  possible  ?  The  mayor  told  me  you  were  a 
little  candy  merchant,  but  I  did  not  suppose  you  car 
ried  on  such  an  extensive  trade." 

"  I  make  a  great  deal  of  money  ;  almost  five  dol 
lars  a  week  ;  and  now  I  am  able,  I  hope  you  will  let 
me  pay  you." 

"  If  you  insist  upon  it,  I  shall,  though  I  had  much 
rather  you  would  keep  the  money." 

"  Thank  you,  ma'am.  I  shall  feel  much  bettei 
when  it  is  paid." 

Mrs.  Gordon  reluctantly  received  the  four  dollars. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     1^ 

It  was  a  very  small  sum  to  her,  though  a  very  large 
one  to  Katy.  She  saw  that  the  little  candy  mer 
chant's  pride  was  of  the  right  kind,  and  she  was  not 
disposed  to  give  her  any  unnecessary  mortification, 
though  she  resolved  that  neither  Katy  nor  her 
mother  should  ever  want  a  friend  in  their  need. 

"  I  owe  you  one  dollar,  also,"  continued  Katy, 
advancing  to  the  side  of  Grace. 

"  Well,  I  declare  ! "  laughed  Grace.  "  If  that 
isn't  a  good  one  !  " 

"  I  promised  to  pay  you  ;  and  you  know  I  would 
not  take  the  money  as  a  gift,"  replied  Katy. 

"  I  am  aware  that  you  would  not,  and  you  are  the 
promptest  paymistress  I  ever  knew.' 

"  With  the  dollar  you  lent  me,  I  bought  the  mo 
lasses  to  make  the  first  lot  of  candy  I  sold.  Your 
dollar  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good." 

"  I  am  glad  it  has  ;  but  I  don't  want  to  take  it." 

"Won't  you  let  me  feel  like  myself?  " 

"  Certainly  I  will,"  laughed  Grace. 

"  Then  let  me  pay  my  debts,  and  not  feel  just  like 
a  beggar/' 

"  You  are  the  queerest  child  I  ever  saw  ! "    ex- 
14 


168  POOR    AND    PROL'D,    OB 

claimed  Grace,  as  she  took  the  dollar.  "  I  am  going 
to  keep  this  dollar  for  you,  and  perhaps  some  time 
you  will  not  be  so  proud  as  you  are  now,  though  I 
hope  you  will  always  have  all  the  money  you  want." 

"•  I  think  I  shall,  if  my  trade  continues  to  be 
good,"  replied  Katy,  who,  now  that  all  her  debts  had 
been  paid,  felt  a  heavy  load  removed  from  her  heart. 

"  You  must  bring  your  candy  up  here.  The 
mayor  says  it  is  very  good.  I  have  a  sweet  tooth, 
and  I  will  buy  lots  of  it,"  added  Grace. 

"  I  will  bring  you  up  some  to-morrow,"  replied 
Katy,  moving  towards  the  door,  and  casting  a  last 
glance  at  the  mischievous  lady  in  the  picture. 

"  The  mayor  told  me  to  ask  you  to  call  and  see 
him  again,"  said  Mrs.  Gordon.  4k  He  is  very  much 
interested  in  you." 

"  He  is  very  kind  ;  "  and  she  bade  them  good  by. 

Katy  felt  highly  honored  by  the  notice  the  mayor 
had  taken  of  her.  Like  Master  Simon  Sneed,  she 
felt  almost  like  calling  him  her  friend  the  mayor  ; 
but  she  resolved  to  call  upon  him  on  her  way  home. 
He  received  her  very  kindly,  told  her  what  a  mistake 
she  had  made  in  giving  the  pawnbroker  hie  note, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KA.TY  REDBURN.     159 

who  had  never  delivered  it  to  the  marshal,  and 
promised  to  buy  lots  of  candy  when  she  came  with 
her  tray. 

When  she  returned  home  she  found  a  message 
there  from  Tommy  Howard,  requesting  to  see  her 
that  afternoon.  She  did  not  feel  like  spending  any 
more  time  in  idleness,  when  she  had  so  much  candy 
to  sell ;  but  Tommy's  request  was  not  to  be  neglect 
ed  ;  and,  taking  her  tray,  she  called  at  his  house  as 
Bhe  passed  up  the  court. 

Tommy  had  been  talking  for  a  year  about  go 
ing  to  sea,  and  had  been  for  some  time  on  the  look 
out  for  a  chance  as  a  cabin  boy  or  a  reefer.  He  had 
told  her  his  plans,  how  he  intended  to  be  a  good 
sailor,  and  work  his  way  up  to  be  captain  of  some 
fine  ship.  She  suspected,  therefore,  that  he  had 
found  a  chance  to  go  to  sea,  and  wanted  to  tell  her 
all  about  it. 

She  found  him  at  home,  waiting  her  expected 
visit ;  but  a  feeling  of  sadness  came  over  her  when 
»he  saw  his  manly  face,  and  thought  how  badly  she 
phould  feel  if  he  should  go  off  on  the  ocean,  and, 
perhaps,  be  drowned  in  its  vast  depths  He  had 


160  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

been  her  friend  and  protector.  Johnny  Grippen 
hardly  dared  to  look  at  her  since  the  flogging  he  had 
given  him  ;  and  Katy  thought,  perhaps,  if  he  went 
away,  that  she  should  have  no  one  to  defend  her. 

"  I  am  going  to-morrow,  Katy,"  said  he,  after  he 
had  given  her  a  seat  by  the  window. 

"  To  sea  ?  "  asked  Katy,  gloomily. 

"  Yes ;  I  have  got  a  first-rate  ship,  and  she  sails 
to-morrow." 

"  I  am  so  sorry  you  are  going ! " 

"  O,  never  mind  it,  Katy ;  I  shall  be  back  one  of 
these  days.  I  wanted  to  toll  you  if  Johnny  Grip- 
pen  gives  you  any  impudence,  to  let  me  know,  and 
I'll  lick  him  when  I  come  back." 

"  I  guess  he  won't." 

"He  may;  if  he  does,  you  had  better  tell  his 
father." 

"But  where  are  you  going,  Tommy?" 

"  To  Liverpool." 

Katy  started.  Her  grandfather  lived  there.  After 
a  moment's  thought  she  conceived  a  plan  which 
made  her  heart  bound  with  emotion.  She  could 
send  word  to  her  grandfather,  by  Tommy,  that,  sfc 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     16 

and  her  mother  were  in  Boston ;  and  then  he  would 
§end  over  after  them,  and  they  could  live  in  nib 
fine  house,  and  she  should  be  as  happy  as  a  queen. 
Then  she  and  her  mother  might  be  passengers  in 
Tommy's  ship  —  and  wouldn't  they  have  great  times 
on  the  passage !  And  as  her  grandfather  was  a 
merchant,  and  owned  ships,  she  might  be  able  to  do 
something  for  Tommy. 

Under  the  seal  of  secrecy  she  related  to  her  young 
sailor  friend  all  the  particulars  of  her  mother's  his 
tory  ;  and  he  wrote  down  the  names  she  gave  him. 
Tommy  promised  to  hunt  all  over  Liverpool  till  he 
found  her  grandfather ;  and  to  insure  him  a  good 
reception,  Katy  wrote  a  short  letter  to  him,  in  which 
she  stated  the  principal  facts  in  the  case. 

"  Now,  good  by,  Tommy,"  said  she,  wiping  away 
a  tear ;  "  I  shall  think  of  you  every  day,  and  pray 
for  you  too.  I  hope  there  won't  be  any  storms  to 
sink  your  ship." 

"  We  shan't  mind  the  storms.     Good  by,  Katy." 

She  felt  very  badly  all  the  rest  of  the  day,  and  her 
aates  were  smaller  than  usual,  for  her  energy  was 
diminished  in  proportion  to  the  sadness  of  her  heart. 
11* 


162  I  A  OK    AND    PROUD.    OR 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

KATY    EMPLOYS    AN    ASSISTANT. 

As  winter  approached,  Katy  realized  that  the  de 
mand  for  molasses  candy  was  on  the  increase,  and 
she  found  it  necessary  to  make  a  much  larger  quan 
tity.  Mrs.  Colvin  still  rendered  her  assistance  "  for 
a  consideration,"  and  the  supply  was  thus  made  to 
correspond  with  the  demand. 

Mrs.  Kedburn's  health,  which  had  begun  to  im 
prove  with  the  advent  of  their  prosperity,  now 
enabled  her  to  sit  up  nearly  the  whole  day,  and 
to  render  much  aid  in  the  household  affairs,  and 
especially  in  the  manufacturing  of  the  candy.  The 
good  fortune  that  had  attended  Katy's  efforta 
brought  many  additional  comforts  to  their  humble 
dwelling  ;  indeed,  they  had  every  thing  that  they 
needed,  and  every  thing  that  any  poor  person  would 
have  required.  But  the  fond  mother  had  never  been 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     1 G3 

able  to  reconcile  herself  to  the  business  which  Katy 
followed.  She  dreaded  every  day  lest  the  tempta 
tions  to  which  it  constantly  exposed  her  might  lead 
her  astray.  She  loved  her  daughter  with  all  hci 
heart,  and  she  would  rather  have  died  in  poverty 
and  want  than  have  had  her  corrupted.  She  had 
every  reason  to  believe  that  Katy  was  the  pure  and 
innocent  child  she  had  always  been ;  but  she  feared, 
as  she  grew  older,  that  some  harm  might  befall  her. 
She  would  rather  bury  her  than  see  her  become  a 
bad  person,  and  she  hoped  soon  to  be  able  to  re 
sume  her  own  labors,  and  let  Katy  abandon  her 
dangerous  business. 

Mrs.  Redburn  often  talked  with  her  about  the 
perils  that  lay  in  her  path  ;  but  Katy  spoke  like  one 
who  was  fortified  by  good  resolutions  and  a  strong 
will.  She  declared  that  she  knew  what  dangers 
were  in  her  way,  and  that  she  could  resist  all  the 
temptations  that  beset  her.  Whatever  views  the 
mother  had,  there  seemed  to  be  no  opportunity  to 
carry  them  out,  for  by  Katy's  labors  they  were  fed, 
clothed,  and  housed.  She  was  her  mother's  only 
support,  and  the  candy  trade,  perilous  as  it  was 
could  not  be  given  up. 


164  POOR    AND    PllOt I).    OK 

Kacy  did  not  desire  to  abandon  the  business  she 
had  built  up,  for  she  was  proud  of  her  achievement. 
She  was  resolved  to  be  good  and  true,  and  to  her 
it  did  not  seem  half  so  perilous  as  to  others.     She 
had  even  indulged  some  thoughts  of  enlarging  her 
business.     Why  could  she  not  have  a  shop,  and  sell 
candy  on  a  counter  as  well  as  in  the  street  ?     She 
mentioned   this  idea  to  her  mother,   who   was    sure 
the  shop   could  not  succeed,  for  she  was  aware  that 
her    daughter's    winning   manners    were    more    than 
half  her  stock  in  trade,  and  that  her  large  sales  re 
sulted  from  carrying  the  candy  to  hundreds  of  people 
who  did  not  want  it  enough  to  go  after  it.     There 
fore  Katy  gave  up  the  shop  at  once,  but  she  did  not 
abandon  the  idea  of  enlarging  her  business,  though 
she  did  not  exactly  see  how  it  could  be  done.     One 
day  an    accident    solved   the  problem   for    her,   and 
at  that  time  commenced  a   new    era   in   the    candy 
trade. 

One  pleasant  morning  in  November,  as  she  walked 
up  the  court,  she  met  Ann  Grippen,  a  sister  of  John 
ny,  who  stopped  to  talk  with  her.  The  Grippen 
family  consisted  of  eleven  persons.  The  father  was 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATT  REDBURN.     165 

a  day  laborer,  and  as  his  wages  were  small,  and  he 
had  a  great  many  mouths  to  feed,  they  were,  of  course, 
miserably  poor.  The  older  children  showed  no 
ability  or  disposition  to  help  their  parents,  but  spent 
most  of  their  time  in  strolling  about  the  streets. 
Johnny  was  a  fair  specimen  of  the  boys,  as  Ann  was 
of  the  girls.  She  might  have  been  seen  almost  any 
day  with  a  well-worn  basket  on  her  arm,  exploring 
the  streets  and  wharves  in  search  of  chips,  for  Johnny 
was  too  vicious  to  do  the  work  which  more  prop 
erly  belonged  to  him. 

"  You  sell  lots  of  candy  now  —  don't  you  ?  "  said 
Ann. 

"  Yes,  a  great  deal,"  replied  Katy,  who  was  not 
disposed  to  spend  her  time  idly,  and  in  the  company 
of  one  whose  reputation  in  the  neighborhood  was  not 
very  good. 

"  Stop  a  minute  —  won't  you  ?  I  want  to  speak  to 
you." 

"  I  will ;  but  be  as  quick  as  you  can,  for  I  am  in  a 
hurry." 

"  Don't  you  think  I  could  sell  candy  ?  "  continued 
A.nn. 


166  POOR    AND    IROUD,    OB 

"  I  dare  say  you  could.  Why  don't  you  try,  if  you 
want  to  ? " 

44  But  I  haven't  got  no  candy ;  and  mother  can't 
make  it,  as  you  can.  If  you  are  a  mind  to  let  me  have 
some,  I  will  sell  it  for  you,  and  you  may  give  me 
what  you  like." 

The  idea  struck  the  little  merchant  very  favorably. 
There  were  a  great  many  girls  just  like  Ann  Grippen, 
who  were  wasting  their  time  about  the  streets,  and 
learning  to  be  wicked.  Why  couldn't  she  employ 
them  to  sell  candy  ? 

"  I  will  try  you,"  replied  Katy. 

"  Well,  I'm  all  ready  to  begin." 

''Not  yet,"  said  the  little  candy  merchant,  with  a 
smile. 

44  Yer.  I  am." 

44  Yo  JT  face  and  hands  are  very  dirty." 

•'  "W  hat  odds  will  that  make  ?  "  asked  Ann,  rather 
indigrt  mtly. 

"  1  )  you  suppose  any  body  would  eat  a  stick  of 
cand  ifter  you  had  touched  it  with  those  dirty  fingers  ? 
Youx  customers  would  be  afraid  of  being  poisoned." 

"j    s'pose    I   can  wash    'em,"    replied   Ann,  who 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     167 

seemed  still  to  regard  it  as  a  very  unnecessary  opera 
tion. 

"  It  would  be  a  good  plan ;  and  while  you  are 
about  it  you  must  not  forget  your  face." 

44  I  ain't  a-going  to  touch  the  candy  with  my  face," 
added  Ann,  triumphantly. 

•'  Very  true ;  but  if  people  saw  you  with  such  a 
dirty  face,  they  would  be  afraid  your  candy  was  not 
very  clean." 

"  Any  way  you  like.  I  will  wash  my  face  ana 
hands  both,  if  that's  all." 

"  But  that  isn't  all.  Your  dress  is  very  dirty  and 
very  ragged." 

"  I  can't  afford  to  dress  like  a  lady,"  said  Ann, 
who  had  some  of  her  brother's  disposition,  and  under 
any  other  circumstances  would  have  resented  Katy'a 
plain  home  thrusts. 

"You  needn't  dress  like  a  lady;  but  the  neater 
and  cleaner  you  are,  the  more  candy  you  will  sell." 

"  I  will  fix  up  as  much  as  I  can." 

44  Very  well ;  if  you  will  come  to  my  house  to 
morrow  morning,  I  will  let  you  have  some  candy." 

44  How  much  will  you  give  me  for  selling  it  ? ' 
*sked  Ann, 


168 


POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 


"I  can't  tell  now;  I  will  think  about  it,  and  let 
you  know  when  you  come." 

Katy  went  her  way,  turning  over  and  over  in  l.er 
mind  the  scheme  which  Ann's  application  had  sug 
gested  to  her.  She  might  employ  a  dozen  girls,  or 
even  more  than  that,  and  pay  them  so  much  a  dozen 
for  selling  the  candy.  She  might  then  stop  going 
out  to  sell  herself,  and  thus  gratify  her  mother.  She 
could  even  go  to  school,  and  still  attend  to  her  busi 


ness. 


When  she  returned  home  at  noon,  she  proposed  tha 
plan  to  her  mother.  Mrs.  Redburn  was  much  pleased 
with  it,  though  she  suggested  many  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  its  success.  The  girls  might  not  be  honest ; 
but  if  they  were  not,  they  could  be  discharged. 
Many  of  them  were  vicious ;  they  would  steal  or  be 
.saucy,  so  that  people  would  not  permit  them  to  enter 
their  stores  and  offices,  and  the  business  would  thus 
be  brought  into  disrepute.  Katy  determined  to  em 
ploy  the  best  girls  she  could  find,  and  to  tell  them  all 
that  they  must  behave  like  ladies. 

The  next  morning  Ann  Grippen  appeared  with  her 
face  and  hands  tolerably  clean,  and  wearing  a  drcsn 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    RKDB17RX.  169 

which  by  a  liberal  construction  could  be  called  decent. 
She  brought  a  dirty,  rusty  old  tray,  which  was  the 
best  she  could  obtain ;  yet  in  spite  of  all  these  dis 
advantages,  the  little  candy  merchant  looked  upon  it 
as  a  hopeful  case. 

"  Now,  Ann,  you  must  be  very  civil  to  every  body 
you  meet,"  said  Katy,  as  she  covered  the  rusty  tray 
with  a  sheet  of  clean  white  paper. 

"  I  hope  I  know  how  to  behave  myself,"  replied 
Ann,  rather  crustily. 

"  I  dare  say  you  do ;  "  and  she  might  have  hinted 
that  there  was  some  difference  between  knowing  how 
to  do  a  thing  and  doing  it.  "I  was  only  going  to 
tell  you  how  to  sell  candy.  If  you  don't  want  me  to 
tell  you,  I  won't." 

" 1  should  like  to  have  you  tell  me,  but  I  guess  I 
know  how  to  behave." 

"  You  must  be  very  civil  to  every  body,  even  when 
they  don't  speak  very  pleasant  to  you." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  replied  Ann,  doubt 
fully,  for  it  was  contrary  to  the  Grippen  philosophy 
jo  be  very  civil  to  any  one,  much  less  to  those  who 
were  not  civil  to  them. 
15 


170  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  When  any  one  buys  any  candy  of  you,  you  mus 
always  say, '  Thank  you  ' ;  and  then  the  next  time  you 
meet  the  person  he  will  buy  again." 

'*  How  much  you  going  to  give  me  for  selling  ? '' 
demanded  Ann,  abruptly  cutting  short  the  instruc 
tions. 

"Mother  thinks  you  ought  to  have  four  cents  a 
dozen." 

"  Four  cents  ?  My  mother  says  I  ought  to  have 
half,  and  I  ain't  going  to  sell  your  candy  for  no  four 
cents  a  dozen." 

"  Very  well ;  you  needn't  if  you  don't  wish  to  do 
60  ;  "  and  Katy  removed  the  sheet  of  white  paper 
she  had  placed  over  the  dirty  tray. 

'*  You  ought  to  give  me  half  I  get,"  added  Ann, 
rather  softened  by  Katy's  firmness  and  decision. 

"  P^our  cents  is  enough.  I  often  sell  a  hundred 
sticks  in  a  day." 

"  Well,  I  don't  care  ;  I  will  try  it  once." 

'*  If  we  find  we  can  afford  to  pay  any  more  than 
four  cents,  we  will  do  so." 

Katy  covered  the  tray  again,  and  arranged  two 
dozen  sticks  on  it  in  an  attractive  manner.  AfteJ 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURX.  171 

giving  Ann  some  further  instructions  in  the  ait  of 
selling  candy,  she  permitted  her  to  depart  on  her 
mission.  She  was  not  very  confident  in  regard  to  her 
success,  for  Ann  was  too  coarse  and  ill-mannered  for 
a  good  saleswoman.  She  hoped  for  the  best,  how 
ever,  and  after  preparing  her  own  tray,  she  went  out 
to  attend  to  business  as  usual.  In  the  court  she  saw 
Master  Simon  Sneed,  who  was  setting  on  his  father's 
doorstep.  She  noticed  that  he  looked  sad  and  down 
hearted  ;  and  when  he  spoke  to  her  the  tones  of  his 
voice  indicated  the  same  depression  of  spirits. 

"Have  you  seen  the  mayor  lately,  Katy,"  asked 
Simon,  as  she  approached. 

41  Not  very  lately." 

"I  should  like  to  see  him,"  added  he,  raising  hia 
eyes  to  her. 

"  Why  don't  you  call  upon  him?  You  know  where 
he  lives  —  don't  you  ?  " 

«  Yes,  but " 

Master  Simon  paused,  as  though  he  did  not  like  to 
rxplain  the  reason.  Katy  waited  for  him  to  proceed  ; 
but  aa  he  did  not,  she  remarked  that  he  looked  very 
wid,  and  she  hoped  nothing  had  happened. 


J72  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OK 

'*  Something  has  happened,"  replied  he,  gloomily. 

"  Nothing  bad,  I  hope." 

"  I  have  left  my  place  at  Sands  &  Co.'s." 

44 Left  it?  Why,  how  can  they  possibly  get  along 
without  you?  "  exclaimed  Katy. 

"  It  is  their  own  fault;  and  though  I  say  it,  who 
should  not  say  it,  they  will  never  find  another  young 
man  who  will  do  as  much  for  them  as  I  have  done." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  they  would  have  let  you  go." 

'*  Nor  I ;  but  some  men  never  know  when  they  are 
well  used." 

"  How  did  it  happen  ?  " 

"  I  asked  them  for  an  increase  of  salary,  and  told 
them  I  could  stay  no  longer  unless  they  did  so.  And 
what  do  you  think  they  did  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  I  should  suppose  they  would  have 
raised  your  salary." 

"  No,  Katy,"  added  Simon,  bitterly.  "  Mr.  Sands 
(old  me  I  might  go  ;  he  wouldn't  have  me  at  any  rate. 
Wasn't  that  cool  ?  Well,  well ;  if  they  don't  know 
their  own  interest,  they  must  bear  the  consequences. 
If  they  fail,  or  lose  all  their  trade,  they  can't  blame 
me  for  it.  Now  I  have  nothing  to  do  ;  and  I  was 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBUKX.     173 

just  thinking  whether  my  friend  the  mayor  couldn't 
help  me  into  a  situation." 

"  I  dare  say  he  can.  Why  don't  you  call  and  see 
him  at  once  ?  " 

"  I  don't  like  to  do  so.  He  sees  so  many  persons 
that  I  really  don't  think  he  would  recollect  me.  I 
must  get  something  to  do,  though  ;  for  my  father  is 
sick,  and  winter  is  coming  on." 

"  How  much  salary  did  you  get,  Master  Simon  :  " 
asked  Katy,  who  highly  approved  his  determination 
not  to  be  a  burden  upon  his  father. 

"  Two  dollars  and  a  half  a  week." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  they  ought  to  have  given  me  ten.  Even 
that  was  better  than  nothing." 

44  I  was  thinking  of  something,  Master  Simon," 
said  Katy,  after  a  pause. 

44  What,  Katy  ?  " 

"  I  make  four  or  five  dollars  a  week. " 

"  Is  it  possible  !  " 

44  If  you  have  a  mind  to  sell  candy,  I  will  furnisn 
you  aL  you  want,  so  that  you  can  make  at  least  three 
dollars  a  week." 


174  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

Tne  lip  of  Master  Simon  slowly  curled,  till  his 
face  bore  an  expression  of  sovereign  contempt.  He 
rose  from  his  seat,  and  fixed  his  eyes  rather  sternly 
upon  the  little  candy  merchant,  who  began  to  think 
she  had  made  a  bad  mistake,  though  all  the  time  she 
had  intended  to  do  a  kind  act. 

"  What  have  I  done,  Katy,  that  you  should  insult 
me  ?  Do  you  think  I  have  sunk  so  low  as  to  peddle 
candy  about  the  streets  ?  "  said  he,  contemptuously. 

"  Do  you  think  I  have  sunk  very  low,  Master 
Simon  ? "  asked  Katy,  with  a  pleasant  smile  on  her 
face. 

"  Your  business  is  very  low,"  he  replied,  more 
gently. 

"  Is  that  business  low  by  which  I  honestly  make 
money  enough  to  support  my  sick  mother  and  my 
self?" 

"  It  would  be  low  for  me  ;  my  ideas  run  a  little 
higher  than  that,"  answered  Simon,  rather  disposed 
to  apologize  for  his  hard  words ;  for  Katy's  smile  had 
conquered  him,  as  a  smile  oftener  will  conquer  than  a 
hard  word. 

"  You  know  best ;  but  if  I  can  do  any  thing  foi 
you,  Master  Simon,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  so." 


THE  FOKTUXES  OF  KATY  KKDMURN.     175 

"  Thank  you,  Katy ;  you  mean  right,  but  never 
speak  to  me  about  selling  candy  again.  I  think  you 
can  help  me." 

"Then  1  will." 

"  I  will  see  you  again  when  I  get  my  plan  ar 
ranged.  In  the  mean  time,  if  you  happen  to  meet 
my  friend  the  mayor,  just  speak  a  good  word  for 
me." 

"  I  will ;  "  and  Katv  left  him. 


176  POOR    AND    PROUD.    OB 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

MASTER    SIMON    8NEED    MAKES    A    MISTAKE. 

CONTRARY  to  the  expectations  of  Katy  and  hei 
mother,  Ann  Grippen  returned  at  noon  with  ner  tray 
empty,  having  sold  the  whole  two  dozen  sticks. 

"  Well,  Ann,  how  do  you  like  the  business  ?  " 
asked  Katy. 

"  First  rate.  Here  is  twenty-four  cents,"  replied 
Ann ;  and  it  was  evident,  from  her  good-natured 
laugh,  that  she  was  much  encouraged  by  her  success. 

"  You  may  give  me  sixteen  ;  the  other  eight  be 
long  to  you." 

"  I  think  I  can  do  something  at  it,"  added  Ann, 
as  she  regarded  with  much  satisfaction  the  first 
money  she  had  ever  earned  in  her  life. 

"  You  can,  if  you  work  it  right ;  but  you  must  be 
very  gentle  and  patient;  you  must  keep  yourself 
clean,  and " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     171 

"  Well,  I  guess  I  know  all  about  that,"  in 
terrupted  Ann,  who  did  not  like  this  style  of 
remark. 

"  Katy,"  said  her  mother,  who  was  sitting  in  hei 
rocking  chair,  by  the  fire. 

"  What,  mother  ?  " 

"  Come  here  a  moment." 

Katy  crossed  the  room  to  her  mother,  to  hear 
what  she  wished  to  say. 

"  You  must  not  talk  to  her  in  that  style,"  said 
Mrs.  Redburn,  in  a  tone  so  low  that  Ann  could  not 
hear  her. 

"  Why  not,  mother  ?  I  was  only  telling  her  how 
to  do." 

"  But  you  speak  in  that  tone  of  superiority  which 
no  one  likes  to  hear.  You  are  but  a  child,  as  she  is, 
and  she  will  not  listen  to  such  advice  from  you." 

Katy  wondered  what  her  mother  would  have 
thought  if  she  had  heard  what  she  said  to  Ann  the 
day  before.  Yet  she  was  conscious  that  she  had 
"  put  on  airs,"  and  talked  like  a  very  old  and  a  very 
wise  parson. 

*'  1    suppose    you    would    like    to    go    out    again 


178  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

this  afternoon,"  resumed  Katy,  joining  her  assist 
ant  again. 

"  I  don't  care  if  I  do." 

"  Well,  come  this  afternoon,  and  you  shall  have 
pome  more  candy  ;  "  and  Ann  ran  home  to  get  her 
dinner. 

"  I  think  my  plan  will  work  well,  mother,"  said 
Katy,  when  she  had  gone. 

"  It  has  so  far,  but  you  must  not  be  too  sure." 

"  I  mean  to  go  out  after  dinner  and  hunt  up  some 
more  girls,  for  you  see  I  shall  have  no  candy  to  sell 
myself  this  afternoon,  when  I  have  given  Ann  two 
dozen  sticks." 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  attempt  to  lecture  them  as 
you  did  her." 

"  Why,  mother,  I  know  all  about  the  business,  and 
they  don't  know  any  thing." 

"  I  doubt  not  you  are  competent  to  advise  them ; 
but  the  manner  in  which  you  address  them  is  more 
offensive  than  the  matter.  Your  knowledge  of  the 
business  makes  you  treat  them  as  inferiors.  Yog 
must  not  think  too  much  of  yourself,  Katy." 

"No  danger  of  that,  mother." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     179 

"  I  am  afraid  there  is.  Persons  in  authority,  who. 
are  gentle  and  kind,  and  do  not  act  like  superiors, 
are  more  promptly  obeyed,  and  more  loved  and  re 
spected,  than  those  who  are  puffed  up  by  their  office, 
and  tyrannical  in  their  manners." 

"  But  I  am  not  a  person  in  authority,  mother," 
laughed  Katy. 

11  You  will  be,  if  you  employ  a  dozen  girls  to  sell 
candy  for  you." 

After  Katy  had  eaten  her  dinner,  and  fitted  out 
Ann  Grippen,  she  left  the  house  in  search  of  some 
more  assistants.  She  was  well  known  to  all  the  boys 
and  girls  in  the  neighborhood  ;  and  when  she  stated 
her  object  to  one  and  another  of  them,  she  was 
readily  understood.  To  help  her  cause,  it  had  begun 
to  be  known  that  Ann  Grippen  had  been  seen  with  a 
clean  face,  selling  candy  in  the  street.  She  had  no 
difficulty,  therefore,  in  procuring  the  services  of  half 
a  dozen  girls,  who  were  delighted  with  the  plan, 
especially  when  Katy  informed  them  of  Ann's 
success. 

On  her  return  home,  she  found  that  Simon  Sr.eed 
had  called  to  see  her,  and  ghe  immediately  hastened  tc 


J80  POOR    AND    FBOUD,    OS 

his  house.     When  she  knocked,  he  came  to  the  door 
and  invitc.d  her  into  the  parlor. 

"  Well,  Katy,  I  have  hit  upon  something,"  said  he 
"  I  am  glad  you  have." 

"  I  went  down  town  after  I  saw  you,  and  hearing 
of  a  place  in  Tremont  Row,  I  went  to  apply  for  it." 
"  Did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Not  yet,  but  I  hope  to  get  it.  They  agreed  to 
give  me  three  dollars  a  week  if  every  thing  proved 
satisfactory ;  but  they  wanted  a  recommendation 
from  my  last  employers." 

"  Of  course  they  will  give  you  one." 
"  No,  they  would  not ;  they  were  offended  because 
I  left  them." 

"  Then  you  asked  them  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  went  after  one  this  forenoon,  and  they 
would  not  give  it  to  me.  I  did  not  much  expect 
they  would,  and  I  so  informed  Messrs.  Runn  &  Reed, 
the  firm  to  which  I  have  applied  for  an ~  engagement. 
I  told  them  exactly  how  the  case  stood ;  that  I  had 
demanded  higher  wages,  and  the  Messrs.  Sands  were 
angry  with  me  for  doing  so,  and  for  that  reason  re 
fused  the  testimonial.  They  saw  through  it  all,  and 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     181 

understood  my  position.  When  I  snoke  to  them 
about  my  friend  the  mayor,  they  looked  surprised, 
and  said  a  recommendation  from  him  would  satisfy 
them.  So  you  see  just  how  I  am  situated." 

"  Why  don't  you  go  to  him  at  once,  and  ask  him 
for  the  recommendation  ? "  said  Katy,  wondering 
why  he  hesitated  at  so  plain  a  case. 

But  Master  Simon  had  some  scruples  about  doing 
so.  He  was  old  enough  to  know  that  it  was  rather 
a  delicate  business  to  ask  a  man  in  a  high  official 
station  for  a  testimonial  on  so  slight  an  acquaint 
ance.  The  mayor  was  interested  in  Katy,  though 
she  did  not  presume  to  call  him  her  friend.  She 
had  twice  called  upon  him,  and  she  might  again. 

"  I  don't  like  to  ask  him,  Katy.  I  feel  some 
delicacy  about  doing  so." 

**  I  should  just  as  lief  ask  him  as  not,  if  I  were 
you.  I  am  afraid  you  are  too  proud,  Master  Si 
mon." 

"I  am  proud,  Katy;  that's  just  it.     I  was  born 

to  be  a  gentleman,  but  I  submit  to  my  lot.     I  am 

willing  to  sell  my  talents  and  my  labor  for  money, 

If  I  can  once  get  in  at  Kunn  &  Reed's,  I  am  sure 

16 


1 81!  POCB.    AND    PROUD,    OB 

they  will  appreciate  me,  and  consider  it  a  lucky  da\ 
on  which  they  engaged  me." 

**  If  you  •«  ant  me  to  go  to  the  mayor's  house  with 
you,  I  will,"  said  Katy,  who  did  not  clearly  com 
prehend  Simon's  wishes. 

"  Well,  1  think  I  will  not  go  myself,"  replied 
Simon. 

"Why  not?" 

"  1  do  not  like  to  place  myself  in  a  humiliating 
posture  before  great  men.  If  I  were  mayor  of  Bos 
ton,  I  should  like  to  do  him  the  favor  which  I  ask 
for  myself.  When  I  am " 

"  You  haven't  asked  him,  Master  Simon." 

"  In  a  word,  Katy,  I  want  you  to  ask  him  for  me. 
You  will  do  me  a  great  favor." 

"  I  will,"  replied  Katy,  promptly. 

"  The  mayor  is  a  very  fine  man,  kind  hearted,  and 
willing  to  help  every  body  that  deserves  help  ;  and 
if  he  were  not  my  friend,  I  should  feel  no  delicacy 
in  asking  him  myself.  You  can  state  the  case,  and 
inform  him  who  I  am,  and  what  I  am  ;  that  you 
know  me  to  be  honest  and  faithful.  You  can  teL 
him,  too,  that  I  am  a  gentlemanly  person,  of  pleas 
ing  address." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     183 

"  But  I  can't  remember  all  that."  interposed 
katy. 

44  Tell  him  what  you  can  recollect,  then.  He  is 
an  easy,  good-natured  man,  and  will  give  you  the 
testimonial  at  once/' 

*k  Suppose  you  write  a  paper,  just  such  as  you 
want,  Master  Simon.  Then  he  can  copy  it." 

"Well,  I  will  do  that." 

Simon  seated  himself  at  a  table,  and,  after  con 
siderable  effort,  produced  the  following  piece  of 
elegant  composition,  which  he  read  to  Katy  :  — 

"  TO    WHOM    IT    MAY    CONCERN  : 

•'  This  may  certify  that  I  have  been  for  some  time 
acquainted  with  my  friend  Mr.  Simon  Sneed,  and  I 
believe  him  to  be  an  honest  and  faithful  young 
man,  of  gentlemanly  bearing,  pleasing  address,  and 
polite  manners,  who  will  be  an  honor  and  an  orna 
ment  to  any  establishment  that  may  be  so  fortunate 
as  to  secure  his  valuable  services  ;  and  I  cheerfully 
recommend  him  to  any  person  to  whom  he  may 
apply  for  a  situation. 

Mayor  of  Boston." 


184  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

**  I  have  left  a  blank  space  for  his  honor's  signa 
ture,"  continued  Master  Simon,  when  he  had  read 
the  modest  document.  "  What  do  you  think  of  it, 
Katy  ? " 

"  It  is  very  fine.  What  a  great  scholar  you  must 
be  !  I  should  think  you'd  write  a  book." 

"  Perhaps  I  may  one  of  these  days." 

"  I  will  go  right  up  to  the  mayor's  house  now," 
Baid  Katy,  as  she  bade  him  good  afternoon. 

Before  she  went,  she  returned  home  and  nicely 
enclosed  six  sticks  of  candy  in  white  paper  as  a 
present  for  Freddie,  the  mayor's  little  son.  On  her 
way  up  to  Park  Street  she  opened  Simon's  paper, 
and  read  it.  It  sounded  funny  to  her,  with  its  big 
words  and  fine  sentences  ;  and  then  what  a  puffing 
Master  Simon  had  given  himself!  She  even  began 
to  wonder  if  there  was  not  something  about  her  gen 
tlemanly  friend  which  was  not  all  right. 

She  reached  the  mayor's  house,  and  as  it  was  his 
time  to  be  at  home,  she  was  conducted  to  the 
library. 

"  Ah,  Katy,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said  he,  taking 
her  hand. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     18" 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  have  brought  this  candy  foi 
Master  Freddie." 

44  You  are  very  good,  and  I  suppose  you  are  so 
proud  that  I  must  not  offer  to  pay  you  for  it." 

*'  If  you  please,  don't,  sir,"  replied  Katy,  uncon 
sciously  taking  Master  Simon's  testimonial  from  her 
pocket.  "  I  don't  want  you  to  pay  me  in  money,  but 
you  may  pay  me  in  another  way,  if  you  please." 

"  May  I  ?     What  have  you  in  your  hand  ?  " 

44  A  paper,  sir.  You  remember  Master  Simon 
Sr.eed  ?  " 

44  No,  I  don't." 

'*  The  young  man  at  Sands  &  Co.'s." 

44  0,  yes  ;  the  young  gentleman  that  uses  so  many 
long  words." 

"  He  has  left  his  place,  and  wants  to  get  another." 

44  Has  he  left  it  ?     Why  was  that  ?  " 

44  He  asked  for  more  wages.  He  has  found 
another  place,  which  he  can  have  if  he  can  get  a  tes 
timonial." 

44  Let  him  ask  Sands  &  Co." 

44  They  won't  give  him  one,  because  they  are  so 
angry  with  him  for  leaving  them." 
16* 


186  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

-  That  indeed." 

"  Master  Simon  wants  you  to  give  him  one,'*  con 
tinued  Katy,  who,  in  her  confusion  was  jumping  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  matter  rather  too  hastily,  and 
before  she  had  produced  a  proper  impression  in 
regard  to  her  hero's  transcendent  character  and 
ability. 

"  Does  he,  indeed,"  laughed  the  mayor.  "  He  is 
very  modest." 

"  He  said,  as  you  were  his  friend,  you  would  not 
object  to  giving  him  one." 

"  What  have  you  in  your  hand,  Katy  ?  Has  he 
written  one  to  save  me  the  trouble  ?  "  laughed  the 
mayor. 

"  I  asked  him  to  do  so.  You  can  copy  it  off,  if 
you  please,  sir." 

The  mayor  took  the  testimonial  and  proceeded  to 
read  it.  Katy  had  already  concluded  from  his  man 
ner,  that  the  business  was  not  all  correct,  and  she 
wished  herself  out  of  the  scrape.  He  finished  the 
reading,  and  then  burst  into  a  violent  fit  of  laughter. 

"  Your  friend  is  very  modest,  Katy  ;  —  my  friend 
Mr.  Simon  Sneed." 


rHE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     187 

"I  hope  I  haven't  done  any  thing  wrong,  sir?  M 
stammered  Katy. 

"No,  Katy;  you  have  been  imposed  upon  by  a 
silly  young  man.  You  meant  to  do  him  a  kindness  — 
in  your  heart  you  had  nothing  but  kindness  —  and  I 
think  the  more  of  you  for  what  you  have  done,  and 
the  less  of  Simon  for  what  he  has  done.  Did  he 
think  I  would  recommend  him,  when  I  know  nothing 
about  him?  He  is  a  conceited  puppy,  and,  in  my 
opinion,  a  worthless  fellow.  One  of  these  days  he 
will  be  *  an  honor  and  an  ornament '  to  the  workhouse, 
if  he  does  business  in  this  manner." 

"  Dear  me !  "  exclaimed  Katy,  frightened  at  the 
remarks  of  the  mayor. 

"  Now,  Katy,  we  will  go  to  the  store  of  the  Messrs. 
Sands  &  Co.,  and  find  out  about  this  young  man.  I 
will  meet  you  there  at  half  past  four.  Good  by, 
Katy.  Freddie  thinks  ever  so  much  of  you  now,  and 
in  his  behalf  I  thank  you  for  the  candy." 

Katy  did  not  know  exactly  what  to  make  of  hei 
position ;  but  at  the  time  fixed,  she  was  at  the  store 
of  Sands  &  Co.,  where  the  mayor  soon  joined  her. 

"Now,  Katy,  you  shall  hear  what  his  employers 


{88  POOR    AXI)    PROUD,    OK 

say  of  Master  Simon,"  said  he  ;  and  she  followed  him 
into  the  store. 

The  mayor  stated  his  business,  and  inquired  con 
cerning  the  character  of  Simon. 

•*  He  is  honest,  and  did  his  work  very  well,"  replied 
Mr.  Sands. 

Katy  was  pleased  to  hear  this,  and  the  mayor  con 
fessed  his  surprise. 

"  But  he  was  an  intolerable  nuisance  about  the 
store,"  continued  Mr.  Sands.  "  With  only  a  small 
amount  of  modesty,  he  would  have  done  very  well ; 
as  it  was,  he  was  the  biggest  man  in  our  employ. 
Our  customers  were  disgusted  with  him,  and  we  had 
been  thinking  of  getting  rid  of  him  for  a  long  time. 
When  he  asked  for  more  wages,  impudently  declaring 
he  would  leave  if  we  did  not  accede  to  his  demand, 
we  discharged  him.  In  a  word,  I  wouldn't  have  him 
round  the  store  at  any  price." 

"As  I  supposed,"  replied  the  mayor,  as  he  showed 
Mr.  Sands  the  recommendation  Simon  had  written. 

"  This  sounds  just  like  him." 

Katy  pitied  poor  Simon  now  that  she  undelete"- d 
him,  and  she  went  home  determined  to  tell  hiir  &J 
that  had  passed  between  the  mayor  and  herself. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

KATT  GETS  A  LETTER  FROM  LIVERPOOL. 

MASTER  Simon  Sneed  sat  at  the  window  when 
Katy  returned,  and  she  had  to  tell  him  all  about  it. 
She  pitied  him,  poor  fellow,  and  she  hoped  the  lesson 
would  do  him  good.  She  did  not  like  to  tell  him  so 
many  unpleasant  things,  for  they  would  wound  his 
pride. 

"  Well,  Katy,  what  did  my  friend  the  mayor  say?  " 
asked  Simon,  as  he  joined  her  on  the  sidewalk. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  will  not  call  him  your  friend 
after  this,"  replied  Katy. 

"  Why  ?  He  had  not  the  effrontery  to  refuse  my 
reasonable  request?" 

"  The  what  ?  Please  to  use  words  that  I  can  un 
derstand,"  said  she,  for  she  was  not  a  little  disgusted 
with  Simon's  big  words,  now  she  knew  how  much 
mischief  they  had  done  him. 


190  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OS 

'*  Didn't  he  give  you  the  paper  ?  ' 

"  He  did  not." 

"  I  didn't  think  that  of  him.     It  was  shabby." 

"  He  said  he  did  not  know  you.  But  I  showed 
him  your  paper,  in  which  you  had  written  down  what 
you  thought  of  yourself." 

"  Well,  what  did  he  say  to  that  ?  "  asked  Simon, 
eagerly. 

"  I  thought  he  would  split  his  fat  sides  laughing 
He  didn't  seem  to  believe  a  word  of  it." 

"  He  didn't?     I  am  surprised  at  that." 

"  He  said  you  were  a  conceited  puppy." 

"  I  always  took  the  mayor  for  a  sensible  fellow  ;  I 
see  I  have  been  mistaken." 

"He  didn't  like  it  because  you  sent  me  to  him 
upon  such  an  errand.  He  said  you  had  imposed  upon 


me. 


"  Go  on,  Katy ;  I  may  expect  any  thing  after  what 
you  have  said,"  replied  rinnoii,  with  all  the  coolness 
and  indifference  he  could  command. 

"  He  said  he  belieVed  you  were  a  worthless  fellow. 
Then  he  told  me  to  meet  him  at  the  store  of  the 
Messrs.  Sands  &  Co.,  and  he  would  inquire  about 
you." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDI3URN.  191 

'  Then  you  weiit  to  the  store  ?  " 

"  We  did  ;  and  when  the  mayor  asked  Mr.  Sands 
about  you,  he  said  you  were  honest,  and  did  yom 
work  well,  but " 

"  Notice  that  remark  particularly.  I  hope  you 
called  the  mayor's  attention  to  it,"  interrupted  Master 
Simon.  "  What  else  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  He  said  you  were  a  nuisance 

"  Observe  how  far  his  prejudices  carried  him 
That  man  believed,  if  I  staid  in  the  store,  that  J 
should  supplant  him  and  his  partner.  You  see  how 
far  he  carried  his  spite." 

"  But  he  said  all  the  good  he  could  of  you,  Simon," 
said  Katy.  "  He  said  you  were  honest,  and  did  your 
work  well." 

"  Can  a  nuisance  be  honest,  and  do  work  well  ? 
Hath  not  a  Jew  eyes  ?  "  queried  Mr.  Simon,  with 
dramatic  fervor. 

*'  He  didn't  say  any  thing  about  Jews." 

"  I  was  quoting  Shakspeare,  the  immortal  bard 
of  Avon.  Katy,  Sands  knew  that  I  was  securing  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  his  customers  ;  and  he 
knew  very  well  if  I  should  step  into  a  rival  establish 


192  POOH    AND    PflOUD,    OR 

ment,  I  should  take  half  his  trade  with  me,"  con 
tinued  the  injured  Sneed. 

"  He  said  his  customers  were  disgusted  with  you. 
You  talked  so  big,  and  thought  so  much  of  yourself, 
he  would  not  have  you  in  the  store  at  any  price. 
But  I  should  think  that  Runn  &  Reed  would  be 
glad  to  have  you  if  you  can  carry  so  much  trade 
with  you." 

"  They  cannot  know  till  I  have  had  a  chance  to 
enow  them  what  I  can  do." 

"  I  hope  you  will  soon  have  such  a  chance." 

"  There  is  one  thing  about  it ;  when  I  do,  Sands 
&  Co.  will  see  the  mistake  they  have  made.  I  think 
the  ladies  that  visit  their  store  will  miss  a  familiar 
face.  They  used  to  insist  upon  my  waiting  upon 
them,  though  it  was  not  exactly  in  the  line  of  my 
duty  to  sell  goods.  Often  was  I  called  away  from 
the  bundle  department  to  attend  them.  No  one 
seemed  to  suit  them  but  me.  Why,  it  was  only  the 
day  before  I  left  that  an  elegant,  aristocratic  lady 
from  Beacon  Street  made  me  go  clear  home  with 
her." 

•«  Why,  what  for  ?  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REPBDKX.     193 

"  To  carry  her  bundle  ;  but  that  was  all  a  pre 
tence." 

"  Did  she  invite  you  to  tea,  Master  Simon  ? " 
asked  Katy,  who  could  hardly  help  laughing  in  his 
face. 

"  No,  but  she  kept  me  quarter  of  an  hour  at  the 
door." 

"  What  did  she  say  ?  " 

*'  She  was  trying  to  make  it  out  that  I  had  brought 
the  wrong  bundle,  and  so  she  opened  it  in  the  en 
try  ;  but  it  was  only  to  keep  me  there." 

"  You  think  she  was  smitten  ?  "  laughed  Katy. 

"  I  have  an  opinion,"  replied  Simon,  sagely. 
"  There  are  a  good  many  fine  ladies  will  miss  my 
face." 

Katy  didn't  think  any  fine  lady  could  be  very 
much  charmed  with  that  thin,  hatchet  face  ;  and  she 
realized  now  that  Master  Simon  was  a  great  heap  of 
vanity.  She  never  thought  before  that  he  could  Le 
so  silly.  She  wanted  to  tell  him  that  he  was  a  greut 
fool,  for  she  feared  he  would  never  find  it  out  him 
self  ;  but  he  was  older  than  she  was,  and  she  did  no! 
think  it  quite  proper  to  do  so. 
17 


POOR    AND    PKOUD,    OR 


"  I  must  go  now,"  said  Katy.  *'  If  you  don't  find 
any  thing  you  like  better,  you  can  sell  candy,  you 

KI10W." 

"  Katy  !  "  exclaimed  Simon,  sternly. 

"  I  am  poor  and  proud,  Master  Simon  ;  I  am  too 
proud  to  be  dependent,  or  do  any  thing  mean  and 
wicked  ;  but  I  am  not  too  proud  to  sell  candy.'* 

"  I  am,"  replied  Simon,  with  dignity. 

"  Then  yours  is  a  foolish  pride,"  replied  Katy, 
with  a  smile  to  soften  the  hard  words  ;  and  she 
walked  away  towards  her  own  house. 

She  felt  thankful  that  she  had  no  such  pride  as 
Simon's  ;  and  she  had  reason  to  be  thankful,  for 
when  any  person  is  too  proud  to  do  the  work  which 
God  has  placed  within  his  reach,  he  becomes  a  pitia 
ble  object,  and  honest  men  will  regard  him  with 
contempt. 

Katy  had  to  work  very  hard  that  evening,  in 
making  candy  for  her  assistants  to  sell,  and  it  was 
nine  o'clock  before  she  was  ready  to  go  to  bed. 

The  next  morning,  all  the  girls  who  had  engaged 
to  come,  appeared  with  their  trays,  and  were  supplied 
T,jith  candv.  Katy  instructed  them  very  modestly  io 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATV    REBBJRX.  195 

Iho  ait  of  selling;  taking  upon  herself  no  airs,  and 
assuming  no  superiority.  Ann  Grippen  came  with 
them,  and  seemed  to  be  very  much  pleased  with  her 
new  occupation. 

At  noon  they  all  returned,  though  only  two  of 
them  had  sold  out  their  two  dozen  sticks.  Katy 
gave  them  further  instructions  in  regard  to  the  best 
places  to  sell  candy,  and  when  they  came  home  at 
night,  all  but  one  had  disposed  of  their  stock.  The 
experiment,  therefore,  was  regarded  as  a  successful 
one.  The  next  day  several  other  girls,  who  had 
heard  of  Katy's  plan,  came  to  the  house,  and  wanted 
to  be  engaged.  The  little  merchant  could  not  sup 
ply  them,  but  promised,  if  they  would  come  the  next 
day,  to  furnish  them  with  a  stock.  Even  now,  the 
quantity  manufactured  required  the  services  of  Mrs. 
Colvin  for  three  hours,  and  this  day  she  engaged  her 
to  come  immediately  aft.er  dinner. 

I  need  not  detail  the  manner  in  which  Katy's  trade 
kept  increasing.  In  a  fortnight  she  had  more  than 
a  dozen  girls  employed  in  selling  candy.  She  was 
actually  making  a  wholesale  business  of  it,  and  no 
longer  travelled  about  the  streets  herself.  By  the 


Iy6  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

first  of  December,  Mrs.  Redburn  had  so  far  recov 
ered  her  health  as  to  be  able  to  take  the  charge  of 
the  manufacturing  part  of  the  business,  and  Katy 
was  permitted  to  go  to  school,  though  she  supplied 
the  girls  in  the  morning  and  at  noon,  and  settled  all 
their  accounts. 

One  day  she  received  a  call  from  Michael,  Mrs. 
Gordon's  man,  requesting  her  attendance  in  Temple 
Street.  She  obeyed  the  summons ;  but  when  she  met 
Mrs.  Gordon  and  Grace,  she  was  alarmed  to  see  how 
coldly  and  reproachfully  they  looked  upon  her. 

"  I  have  heard  a  very  bad  story  about  you,  Katy," 
said  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  About  me  ?  "  gasped  she. 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  was  very  sorry  to  hear  it." 

"What  was  it,  ma'am?  I  hope  I  haven't  done 
any  thing  to  lose  your  good  will." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  have." 

"  I  don't  believe  she  did  it,  mother,"  said  Grace. 
"  She  is  too  good  to  do  any  such  thing." 

"  What  is  it  ?     Do  tell  me." 

« I  have  been  told  that  a  little  girl,  who  sells 
candy,  has  been  playing  tricks  upon  passers-by  in 
the  streets  ;  that  she  tells  lies  and  deceives  them." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  HEPBURN.     197 

'*  I  never  did  such  a  thirty  !  "  protested  Raty,  her 
cheeks  covered  with  the  blush  of  indignation. 

Mrs.  Gordon  explained  the  deception,  and  spoke 
ir»  very  severe  terms  of  it.  The  trick  had  been 
played  off  on  a  friend  of  hers,  who  had  told  of  it 
the  evening  before. 

"  When  was  it,  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Katy. 
Yesterday  forenoon." 

"  I  was  in  school  then.  Besides,  I  haven't  sold 
any  candy  in  the  street  for  more  than  three 
weeks." 

"  I  knew  it  wasn't  she  ! "  exclaimed  Grace,  tri 
umphantly. 

44 1  was  very  unwilling  to  believe  it,"  added  Mrs. 
Gordon  ;  "  but  the  description  seemed  to  point  you 
out  as  the  little  deceiver." 

"  I  wouldn't  do  such  a  thing,  ma'am.  If  you  in 
quire,  you  will  find  that  I  have  been  in  school  every 
day  this  week." 

"  I  believe  you,  Katy.  But  can  you  tell  me  who 
it  was  ?  " 

'*  1   don't  know,  but  I  will  find  out ;  "  and  before 
*be    took   her   leave    she  told    the    ladies    how   uh« 
17* 


198  POOR    AND    PROUP,    OR. 

conducted  bar  business,  which  amused  them  very 
much. 

"  Who  played  this  trick  ? "  said  she  to  herself, 
when  she  got  into  the  street.  "  If  I  can  only  find 
out,  I  will  discharge  her.  She  will  bring  the  busi 
ness  into  contempt." 

Of  course  no  one  would  own  it,  and  the  only  way 
she  could  find  out  was  by  watching  them.  It  must 
be  stopped,  for,  besides  being  too  honest  to  allow 
•such  deception,  Katy  saw  that  it  would  spoil  the 
trade. 

When  she  got  home,  she  found  a  letter  which  the 
penny-post  had  brought,  directed  to  her  in  large 
school-boy  hand. 

"  It  is  from  Tommy,"  exclaimed  she,  eagerly  seiz 
ing  the  letter  and  retiring  to  a  corner  to  read  it. 

**  You  and  Tommy  are  great  friends,"  said  her 
mother. 

"  Yes,  mother  ;  but  don't  you  see  it  came  all  the 
way  from  Liverpool  ?  " 

Mrs.  Redburn  sighed  deeply  at  the  mention  of  her 
native  city,  and  a  thousand  memories  of  the  pa/>t 
flirted  before  her.  Katy  broke  the  seal,  and  as  thia 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATV  REDBURN      199 

letter  contained  some  very  important  information,  my 
young  readers  may  look  over  her  shoulder  while  sLa 
reads  it.  It  was  as  follows  :  — 

"LIVERPOOL,  Nov.  13,  1843. 

"  DEAR  FRIEND  :  I  take  my  pen  in  hand  to  let 
you  know  that  I  am  well,  and  I  hope  these  few  lines 
will  find  5  ou  enjoying  the  same  blessing.  I  arrived 
to  Liverpool  safe  and  sound,  and  when  I  get  home,  1 
will  tell  you  all  about  it.  Just  as  we  got  into  the 
dock,  I  kept  thinking  about  what  you  told  me.  They 
won't  let  us  have  any  fires  on  board  ship  in  the  docks  ; 
BO  we  all  board  ashore.  I  asked  the  man  where  we 
stopped  if  he  knew  such  a  merchant  as  Matthew 
Guthrie.  He  did  not  know  him,  and  never  heard  of 
him.  Then  1  went  round  among  the  big  merchants, 
and  asked  about  your  grandfather.  I  asked  a  good 
many  before  I  found  one  who  knew  him,  and  he  said 
your  grandfather  had  been  dead  ten  years.  I  asked 
him  where  the  family  was.  He  said  Mr.  Guthrie  bad 
only  two  daughters ;  that  one  of  them  had  run  away 
with  her  father's  clerk,  and  the  other  was  married 
ind  gone  to  America.  He  said  her  husband  belonged 


200  POOR    AXl)    PROUD,    OR 

to  Baltimore.  This  was  all  he  knew  about  it,  and  all 
1  could  find  out.  We  shall  sail  home  in  about  three 
weeks.  I  thought  you  would  like  to  know ;  so  I  wrote 
this  letter  to  send  by  the  steamer.  Drop  in  and  see 
my  mother,  and  tell  her  I  am  well,  and  had  a  tip 
top  voyage  over.  No  more  at  present  from 
Your  affectionate  friend, 

THOMAS  HOWARD." 

Katy  read  the  letter  twice  over,  and  then  gave  it  to 
her  mother,  after  explaining  that  she  had  told  Tommy 
her  story,  and  requested  him  to  inquire  about  her 
grandfather.  Mrs.  Redburn  was  too  much  affected 
by  the  news  from  her  early  home  to  find  fault  with 
Katy  for  what  she  had  done. 

Both  of  them  felt  very  sad,  for  while  Mrs.  Red- 
burn  thought  of  her  father,  who  had  lain  in  his  grave 
ten  years  without  her  knowledge,  Katy  could  not  but 
mourn  over  the  hopes  which  Tommy's  letter  had 
blasted. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    RUDBUKtf.  201 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

ANH     GRIPPEN    PLAYS    TRICKS    UPON    TRAVELLERS, 

THE  next  day  was  Wednesday,  and  as  school  kept 
but  half  a  day,  Katy  resolved  to  spend  the  afternoon 
in  finding  out  which  of  her  employees  was  in  the 
habit  of  practising  the  deception  which  Mrs.  Gordon 
nad  described  to  her.  She  could  think  of  no  one 
upon  whom  she  could  fasten  the  guilt,  unless  it  was 
Ann  Grippen,  who,  she  thought,  would  be  more  likely 
to  play  such  a  trick  than  any  other.  After  she  had 
delivered  their  candy,  she  put  on  her  things  and  fol 
lowed  the  girls  down  to  State  Street,  where  they  sep 
arated.  Ann  went  up  Court  Street,  and  Katy  decided 
that  she  needed  watching,  and  so  she  followed  her. 

It  was  a  very  tedious  afternoon  to  the  little  whole 
sale  merchant,  but  the  dignity  of  the  trade  depended 
upon  her  efforts  in  seeking  the  offender.  Ann 
jntered  various  shops,  and  seemed  to  be  having  very 


202  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

good  luck  with  her  stock.  At  last  she  appeared  to 
grow  tired  of  her  labors,  and  turned  into  an  alley. 
Katy  wondered  what  she  was  going  to  do  there,  for  it 
was  certainly  no  place  to  sell  candy.  She  waited 
some  time  for  her  to  come  out,  and  when  she  heard 
her  steps,  she  placed  herself  at  the  corner  of  the  al 
ley,  in  such  a  position  that  Ann  could  not  see  her 
face. 

Presently  she  heard  Ann  crying  with  all  her 
might  ;  and  crying  so  very  naturally  that  she  could 
hardly  persuade  herself  that  it  was  not  real.  She 
glanced  over  her  shoulder  at  her,  and  discovered  that 
ehe  had  broken  the  nice  sticks  of  candy  into  a  great 
many  little  pieces ;  and  it  was  for  this  purpose  that 
she  had  gone  into  the  alley.  Katy  was  indignant 
when  she  saw  so  much  valuable  merchandise  thus 
ruthlessly  mutilated,  and  the  sale  of  it  spoiled.  She 
was  disposed  to  present  herself  to  the  artful  girl,  and 
soundly  lecture  her  for  the  deceit  and  wickedness  ;  but 
she  wanted  to  see  how  the  game  was  played. 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  "  sobbed  Ann  .Grippen,  apparently 
suffering  all  the  pangs  of  a  broken  heart,  which 
could  not  possibly  be  repaired. 


THE  FOKTUNKS  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     203 

"  What  is  the  matter,  little  girl  ?  "  asked  a  benevo 
lent  lady,  attracted  by  the  distress  of  Ann. 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  "  cried  Ann,  unable  to  speak  on 
account  of  the  torrents  of  woe  that  overwhelmed  her. 

"  Don't  cry,  little  girl,  and  tell  me  what  the  matter 
is,"  continued  the  kind  lady. 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  I  fell  down  and  broke  all  my 
candy,"  sobbed  Ann. 

"  Poor  child  !  "  exclaimed  the  sympathizing  lady. 

"  My  father'll  beat  me  because  I  didn't  sell  it," 
added  Ann. 

"  He  is  a  cruel  man.  Are  you  sure  he  will  punish 
you." 

"  Yes,  ma'am,"  groaned  Ann.  "  He'll  whip  me 
almost  to  death  if  I  don't  bring  home  half  a  dollar." 

"  You  can  tell  him  you  fell  down  and  broke  the 
candy,"  suggested  the  lady. 

"  He  won't  believe  me  ;  he'll  say  I  sold  the  candy 
and  spent  the  money.  O,  dear  me." 

'*  You  can  show  him  the  pieces." 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  Then  he'll  say  I  broke  it  on 
purpose,  because  I  was  too  lazy  to  sell  it ;  and  then 
he'll  kill  me  —  I  know  he  will  " 


204  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OK 

"  I  will  go  and  see  him,  and  tell  him  about  the 
accident.  Where  do  you  live  ?  " 

"Down  North  Square.  He  ain't  to  home  now," 
replied  Ann,  who  was  not  quite  prepared  for  this 
method  of  treating  the  subject. 

"  Poor  child  !     I  pity  you,"  sighed  the  lady. 

"  O,  dear  me  !  "  cried  Ann,  exerting  herself  to  the 
utmost  to  deepen  the  impression  she  had  made. 

44  How  much  do  you  want  to  make  up  the  value 
of  your  candy  ?  " 

"  Half  a  dollar." 

"  There  it  is,  poor  child!  If  it  will  save  you  from 
abuse,  you  are  welcome  to  it." 

**  Thank  you,  ma'am.  It  may  save  my  life,"  replied 
Ann,  as  she  took  the  half  dollar  and  put  it  in  her 
pocket. 

"  What  an  awful  liar  she  is  !  "  said  Katy  to  herself, 
as  the  lady  hurried  on,  probably  much  pleased  with 
herself  as  she  thought  of  the  kind  act  she  supposed 
she  had  done. 

Katy  was  curious  to  know  what  her  unworthy  as 
sistant  would  do  next,  and  she  followed  her  down 
Hanover  Street  and  saw  her  stop  before  the  Amen- 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN.  205 

can  House.  She  could  not  believe  that  Ann  would 
have  the  hardihood  to  play  off  the  same  trick  again 
so  soon ;  and  she  was  very  much  surprised  and  very 
indignant  when  she  saw  her  begin  to  cry  with  all  her 
might,  just  as  she  had  done  before.  While  the 
deceitful  girl's  eyes  were  covered  with  her  apron,  in 
the  extremity  of  her  grief,  Katy  contrived  to  get  on 
the  hotel  steps  behind  her,  so  that  she  could  see  and 
hear  all  that  passed. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  that  girl  ?  "  asked  a  gen- 
tJeman,  who  presently  appeared  at  the  door,  address 
ing  another  who  was  just  behind  him. 

"  It  is  the  broken  candy  dodge,"  replied  the  second 
gentleman.  "  That  trick  has  been  played  off  a  dozen 
times  within  a  week." 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  asked  the  first.  "  I  don't 
understand  it." 

The  second  explained  the  trick,  precisely  as  Katy 
had  just  witnessed  it  in  Court  Street. 

"  Now,  don't  say  a  word,"  he  continued.  "  I  have 
a  counterfeit  half  dollar  in  my  pocket,  and  you  shall 
r-ee  how  it  is  done." 

With  this  announcement  of  his  purpose,  he 
18 


206  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

accosted  Ann,  who  told  him  about  the  same  story 
she  had  told  the  lady,  and  he  finally  gave  her  the 
counterfeit  half  dollar,  which  \nn  did  not  suspect 
was  a  had  one. 

"  How  abominably  wicked  she  is  !  "  exclaimed 
Katy,  as  she  followed  her  up  the  street.  "  But  I  will 
soon  spoil  all  her  fun,  and  cut  off  her  profits.  I  will 
teach  her  that  honesty  is  the  best  policy." 

It  was  easier  for  Katy  to  resolve  what  to  do  than 
it  was  to  do  it ;  for  the  wicked  girl  could  easily  get 
her  stock  through  another  person.  As  she  walked 
up  the  street,  Ann  lightened  her  load  by  eating  the 
pieces  of  broken  candy,  upon  which  she  seemed  to 
feed  with  hearty  relish.  At  a  window  in  Court 
Street,  Ann  stopped  to  look  at  some  pictures,  when 
she  was  joined  by  another  of  the  candy  sellers,  and 
they  walked  together  till  they  came  to  an  unfre 
quented  court,  which  they  entered.  Katy  could  hear 
enough  of  their  conversation,  as  she  followed  them, 
to  ascertain  that  they  were  talking  about  the  tricks 
Ann  had  practised.  In  the  court  they  seated  them 
selves  on  a  door  stone,  and  as  they  talked  and 
*aughed  about  the  deceit,  they  ate  the  pieces  of  candy, 


THK  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  KEDBURN.     207 

"  There,"  said  Ann,  "  I  have  made  a  dollar  and  ten 
cents  this  afternoon.  You  don't  catch  me  walking  til 
over  the  city  for  twenty-four  cents,  when  I  don't  get 
but  eight  of  that." 

*'  I  ain't  so  smart  as  you,"  modestly  replied  Julia 
Morgan,  the  other  girl. 

"You'll  learn,"  said  Ann,  as  she  took  out  her 
money  and  exhibited  the  two  half  dollars. 

"  I  don't  think  people  would  believe  me,  if  I  should 
try  that  game." 

"  Try  some  other.  I  think  I  shall,  fur  I've  about 
used  up  the  broken  candy  game." 

"  What  other  ?  " 

"  I  have  one,"  replied  Ann,  prudently  declining  to 
divulge  her  secret;  "and  when  I've  tried  it,  I'll  tell 
you  all  ebout  it." 

"  Why  don't  you  try  it  now  ?  " 

"  1  would  if  my  candy  wasn't  broken  " 

**  I  will  let  you  have  mine." 

"  Then  I  will." 

44  Give  me  fourteen  cents." 

"  I  will  when  I've  done  with  it."' 

"  No,  you  don't,"  laughed  Julia,  who  justly  inferred 


1208  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OR 

that  if  Ann  would  cheat  one  person,  she  would 
another. 

But  Ann  was  so  much  interested  in  the  experiment 
that  she  decided  to  give  the  fourteen  cents,  and  took 
the  candy.  Katy  wondered  what  the  new  gam^ 
could  be,  and  wanted  to  see  her  carry  it  out,  though 
her  conscience  smote  her  for  permitting  the  lady  to  be 
deceived,  when  she  could  have  unmasked  the  deceit. 
She  resolved  not  to  let  another  person  be  deoeived, 
and  followed  the  two  girls  into  State  Street,  as  much 
for  the  purpose  of  exposing  Ann's  wickedness,  as  to 
learn  the  trick  she  intended  to  play. 

"  Now  you  go  away,"  said  Ann  to  her  companion, 
as  she  placed  herself  on  the  steps  of  the  Merchants' 
Bank. 

It  was  nearly  dark  by  this  time,  and  as  there  were 
but  few  persons  in  the  street,  Ann  did  not  commence 
her  part  of  the  performance  till  she  saw  a  well-dressed 
gentleman  approach ;  whereupon  she  began  to  cry 
as  she  had  done  twice  before  that  day. 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  O,  dear  me !  I  shall  be 
killed  !  "  cried  she,  so  lustily,  that  the  well-dressed 
gentleman  could  not  decently  avoid  inquiring  the 
cause  of  h«r  hitter  sorrow. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     209 

*•  I  haven't  sold  out,"  sobbed  Ann. 

"What  if  you  haven't  ?  Why  need  you  cry  abou; 
it?  "  asked  the  stranger. 

"  My  mother  will  kill  me  if  I  go  home  without 
half  a  dollar." 

"  She  is  a  cruel  woman,  then." 

"  Boo,  hoo,  hoo  !  She'll  beat  me  to  death  !  O, 
dear  me  !  I  only  got  ten  cents." 

"  Why  don't  you  fly  round  and  sell  your  candy  ?  " 
said  the  gentleman. 

"  I  can't  now ;  the  folks  have  all  gone,  and  it's 
almost  dark.  O,  I  wish  I  was  dead !  " 

"  Well,  well,  don't  cry  any  more  ;  I'll  give  you 
half  a  dollar,  and  that  will  make  it  all  right ;  "  and 
he  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  for  the  money. 

"  Don't  give  it  to  her,"  said  Katy,  stepping  out  of 
the  lane  by  the  side  of  the  bank.  "  She  has  deceived 
you,  sir." 

"  Deceived  me,  has  she  ?  "  added  the  stranger,  as 
he  glanced  at  Katy. 

"  Yes,  sir.     She  has  got  more  than  a  dollar  in  her 
pocket  now."     ,. 
18* 


210  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  Don't  you  believe  her,"  sobbed  Ann,  still  pru 
dently  keening  up  the  appearance  of  grief. 

"  How  do  you  know  she  has  deceived  me  ?  "  asked 
the  stranger,  not  a  little  piqued,  as  he  thought  how 
readily  he  had  credited  the  girl's  story. 

"  Because  I  saw  her  play  a  trick  just  like  this  twice 
before  this  afternoon.  She  has  two  half  dollars  in 
her  pocket  now,  though  one  of  them  is  counterfeit." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that,  Katy  lledburn?" 
demanded  Ann,  angrily,  and  now  forgeting  her  woe 
and  her  tears. 

"You  speak  v*r*  positively,"  said  the  gentleman 
to  Katy ;  "  anc1  if  \vnat  you  say  is  true,  something 
enould  be  done  abo.ir.  it." 

"  She  is  telling  lies  !  "  exclaimed  Ann,  much  excited. 

"  We  can  soon  determine,  for  here  comes  a  police 
man,  and  I  will  refer  the  matter  to  him." 

At  these  words,  Ann  edged  off  the  steps  of  the 
bank,  and  suddenly  started  off  as  fast  as  she  could 
run,  having,  it  seemed,  a  very  wholesome  aversion  to 
policemen.  But  sue  made  a  bad  mistake,  for,  not 
seeing  in  what  direction  the  officer  was  approaching, 
she  ran  into  the  \uryjuwb  of  the  lion. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     L'll 

'  Stop  her  !"  shouted  the  gentleman. 

The  policeman  laid  a  rude  hand  upon  her  shoulder, 
and  marched  her  back  to  the  bank.  In  a  few  words 
the  gentleman  stated  what  had  happened,  and  re 
quested  the  officer  to  search  her,  and  thus  decide 
whether  Katy  told  the  truth  or  not.  He  readily  con 
sented,  and  on  turning  out  Ann's  pocket,  produced 
the  two  half  dollars,  one  of  which  the  gentleman  de 
cided  was  a  counterfeit  coin. 

"  How  could  you  know  this  was  a  counterfeit  ? " 
he  asked  of  Katy. 

"  I  heard  a  gentleman  at  the  door  of  the  Ameri 
can  House,  who  knew  the  game,  tell  another  that  it 
was  a  counterfeit ;  "  and  she  proceeded  to  give  all 
the  particulars  of  the  two  tricks  she  had  seen  Ann 
play  off. 

"  I  shall  have  to  take  you  to  the  lock-up,  my  little 
joker,"  said  the  policeman. 

"  0,  dear  me  !  "  cried  Ann,  and  this  time  she  wai 
in  earnest. 

"  Please  don't  do  that !  "  said  Katy,  who  had  not 
foreseen  this  consequence  of  the  game. 

"  I  must ;  it  is  downright  swindling." 


212  POOR    AKD    PROUD,    OR 

"  Please  don't ;  she  has  a  father  and  mother,  and 
I  dare  say  they  will  feel  very  bad  about  it.  I 
promise  you  she  shall  never  do  it  again,"  pleaded 
Katy. 

"  I  must  do  my  duty.  This  candy  trick  has  been 
played  a  good  many  times,  and  has  become  a  nui 
sance.  I  must  lock  her  up." 

"  Save  me,  Katy,  save  me  !  "  begged  Ann,  terrified 
at  the  thought  of  being  put  in  a  prison  or  some 
dreadful  place. 

"Why  do  you  wish  to  save  her?"  interposed  the 
gentleman. 

"  Because  her  mother  will  feel  so  bad  ;  and  she 
will  lay  it  all  to  me." 

Katy  told  him  all  about  herself  and  about  Ann, 
and  he  was  so  much  interested  in  her,  that  he  joined 
in  pleading  for  Ann's  release.  The  officer  was  firm 
for  a  long  time,  but  when  the  gentleman  declared 
that  he  should  not  appear  against  her,  he  decided  to 
let  her  go,  to  Katy's  great  delight,  as  well  as  tc 
Ann's. 

H ambled  by  the  peril  from  which  she  had  just 
escaped,  Ann  promised  never  to  be  guilty  of  playing 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN*.  213 

another  trick  upon  travellers ;  but  Katy  was  firm  in 
her  purpose  not  to  supply  her  with  any  more  candy. 
She  did  not  dare  to  resent  Katy's  interference,  for 
the  terrors  of  the  lock-up  were  still  in  her  mind,  and 
she  did  not  know  but  that  Katy  might  have  her  ar 
rested  and  punished  for  what  she  had  done,  if  she 
attempted  to  retaliate  upon  her. 

Katy  was  shocked  at  the  wickedness  of  her  com 
panion  ;  and,  as  they  walked  home  together,  she 
tried  to  make  her  see  the  enormity  of  her  offence, 
and  give  her  some  better  views  of  her  duty  to  her 
fellow-beings.  Ann  heard  her  in  silence  and  with 
aumility,  and  the  little  moralist  hoped  the  event 
would  result  in  good  to  her. 


214  POOR    AND    PROUD.    DR 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    SUN    SETS,    AND    THE    NIGHT    COMES    ON. 

HAVING  recorded  the  steps  by  which  Katy  had 
carried  forward  her  now  flourishing  trade,  from  the 
dawn  of  the  idea  up  to  the  height  of  its  prosperity, 
we  may  pass  over  a  year  with  only  a  brief  note  of  its 
principal  incidents. 

My  young  readers  may  have  supposed  that  Katy 
and  her  mother  had  gathered  a  great  deal  of  money 
in  the  candy  trade.  It  was  not  so,  for  as  the  busi 
ness  increased,  and  Katy's  labors  as  a  saleswoman 
were  withdrawn,  the  expenses  increased,  and  the 
profits  were  proportionally  less.  And  then,  neither 
Mrs.  Kedburn  nor  her  daughter  had  a  faculty  for 
saving  up  much  money  ;  so  that,  though  they  made 
considerable,  their  prosperity  permitted  new  demands 
to  be  made  upon  the  purse.  They  hired  two  more 
rooms  ;  they  replaced  the  clothing  and  furniture 


THK    F011TUXES    OF    KATY     KKI)HURNT.  215 

which  had  been  sacrificed  under  the  pressure  of  actual 
want  ;  they  lived  better  than  they  had  lived  before  ; 
and  Mrs.  Redburn  had  availed  herself  of  the  services 
of  a  distinguished  physician,  whose  attendance  had 
cost  a  large  sum.  It  is  true  they  lived  very  well, 
mu^h  better  than  people  in  their  circumstances  oughl 
to  have  lived.  Therefore,  notwithstanding  theii 
prosperity,  they  had  saved  but  a  small  sum  from  the 
proceeds  of  the  year's  business.  They  were  not 
rich  ;  they  were  simply  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
which,  considering  their  situation  when  Katy  com 
menced  business,  was  quite  enough  to  render  them 
very  thankful  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  for  the  rich 
blessings  he  had  bestowed  upon  them. 

These  were  not  all  temporal  blessings ;  if  they 
nad  been,  their  success  would  only  have  been  paitial 
and  temporary,  their  prosperity  only  an  outward 
beeming,  which,  in  the  truest  and  highest  sense,  can 
hardly  be  called  prosperity  ;  no  more  than  if  a  man 
should  gain  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  land,  and 
lose  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  stocks  or  merchan 
dise.  Both  Katy  and  her  mother,  while  they  were 
gathering  the  treasures  of  this  world,  were  also 


216  POOR    AND     PKOril),     OR 

**  laying  up  treasures  in  heaven,  where  neither  moth 
nor  rust  doth  corrupt."  Want  had  taught  them  ita 
hard  lesson,  and  they  had  come  out  of  the  fiery  fur 
nace  of  affliction  the  wiser  and  the  better  for  the 
severe  ordeal.  The  mother's  foolish  pride  had  been 
rebuked,  the  daughter's  true  pride  had  been  en 
couraged.  They  had  learned  that  faith  and  patience 
are  real  supports  in  the  hour  of  trial.  The  perilous 
life  in  the  streets  which  Katy  had  led  for  a  time,  ex 
posed  her  to  a  thousand  temptations  ;  and  she  and 
her  mother  thanked  God  that  they  had  made  her 
stronger  and  truer,  as  temptation  resisted  always 
makes  the  soul.  That  year  of  experience  had  given 
Katy  a  character  ;  it  expanded  her  views  of  life,  and 
placed  her  in  a  situation  where  she  was  early  called 
u  pon  to  decide  between  the  right  and  the  wrong ; 
\\Len  she  was  required  to  select  her  path  for  life. 
She  had  chosen  the  good  way,  as  Ann  Grippen  had 
chosen  the  evil  way. 

I  do  not  mean  to  say  her  character  was  formed,  or 
that  having  chosen  to  be  good,  she  could  not  after- 
cvards  be  evil.  But  the  great  experiences  of  life, 
vvhich  generally  come  in  more  mature  years,  had 


THE    FORTUNES    OF     KATY     REDBURN".  217 

been  forced  upon  her-  while  still  a  child  ;  and  nobly 
and  truly  had  she  taken  up  and  borne  the  burden 
imposed  upon  her.  As  a  child  she  had  done  the 
duties  of  the  full-grown  woman,  and  she  had  done 
them  well.  She  had  been  faithful  to  herself. 

Providence  kindly  ordains  that  the  child  shall 
serve  a  long  apprenticeship  before  it  is  called  upon  to 
think  and  act  for  itself.  Katy  had  anticipated  the 
period  of  maturity,  and  with  the  untried  soul  of  a 
child,  had  benn  compelled  to  grapple  with  its  duties 
and  its  temptations.  As  her  opportunities  to  be 
good  and  do  good  were  increased,  so  was  her  lia 
bility  to  do  wrong.  She  had  her  faults,  great,  grave 
faults,  but  she  was  truly  endeavoring  to  overcome  them. 

Tommy  had  returned  from  his  voyage  to  Liver 
pool,  and  joyous  was  the  meeting  between  Katy  and 
her  sailor  friend.  It  took  him  all  the  evenings  for  a 
week  to  tell  the  story  of  his  voyage,  to  which  Mrs. 
Redburn  and  her  daughter  listened  with  much  satis 
faction.  He  remained  at  home  two  months,  and 
Ihen  departed  on  a  voyage  to  the  East  Indies. 

Master  Simon  Sneed,  after  Katy's  attempt  to  serve 
him,  did  not  tell  her  many  more  large  stories  about 
19 


218  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

himself,  for  she  understood  him  now,  and  knew  that 
Le  was  not  half  so  great  a  man  as  he  pretended  to 
be.  In  the  spring  he  obtained  a  situation  in  a  small 
retail  store,  where  there  was  not  a  very  wide  field  for 
the  exercise  of  his  splendid  abilities.  He  had  been 
idle  all  winter,  and  when  he  lamented  his  mis 
fortunes  to  Katy,  she  always  asked  why  he  did  not 
sell  candy.  Once  she  suggested  that  he  should  learn 
a  trade,  to  which  Master  Simon  always  replied,  that 
he  was  born  to  be  a  gentleman,  and  would  never  vol 
untarily  demean  himself  by  pursuing  a  degrading 
occupation.  He  was  above  being  a  mechanic,  and  he 
would  never  soil  his  hands  with  dirty  work.  Katy 
began  to  think  he  was  really  a  fool.  She  could 
scarcely  think  him  "  poor  and  proud  ;  "  he  was  only 
poor  and  foolish. 

At  the  close  of  Katy's  first  year  in  trade,  a  great 
misfortune  befell  her  in  the  loss  of  Mrs.  Colvin,  her 
able  assistant  in  the  manufacturing  department  of 
the  business.  A  worthy  man,  who  owned  a  littlr 
farm  in  the  country,  tempted  her  with  an  offer  of 
marriage,  and  her  conscience  (1  suppose)  would  not 
let  her  refuse  it.  Katy,  though  she  was  a  woman,  so 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDIU'RN. 

far  as  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  life  were  con 
cerned,  was  still  a  child  in  her  feelings  and  affections, 
and  cried  bitterly  when  they  parted.  The  good  woman 
was  scarcely  less  affected,  and  made  Katy  and  her 
mother  promise  an  early  visit  to  her  farm. 

Katy's  sorrow  at  parting  with  her  beloved  friend 
was  not  the  only,  nor,  perhaps,  the  most  important, 
result  of  Mrs.  Oolvin's  departure,  for  they  were  de 
prived  of  the  assistance  of  the  chief  candy-puller. 
Katy  tried  to  secure  another  woman  for  this  labor, 
but  could  not  find  a  person  who  would  strrve  her  in 
this  capacity.  After  a  vain  search,  Mrs.  Redburn 
thought  she  was  able  to  do  the  work  herself,  for  her 
health  seemed  to  be  pretty  well  established.  Per 
haps,  she  reasoned,  it  was  quite  as  well  that  Mrs. 
Colvin  had  gone,  for  if  she  could  pull  the  candy  her 
self,  it  would  save  from  two  to  three  dollars  a  week. 

Katy  would  not  consent  that  she  should  do  it 
alone,  but  agreed  to  divide  the  labor  between  them. 
The  quantity  manufactured  every  day  was  so  great 
that  the  toil  of  making  it  fell  heavily  upon  them  ;  but 
as  Mrs.  Redburn  did  not  complain,  Katy  was  too 
proud  to  do  so,  though  her  wrists  and  shoulders 


220  POOR  Axn  PROUD,  OH 

pained  her  severely  every  night  after  the  work  waa 
done. 

This  toil  weighed  heavily  on  llaty's  rather  feeble 
constitution ;  but  all  her  mother  could  say  would  not 
induce  her  to  abandon  the  work.  For  a  month  they 
got  along  tolerably  well,  and,  perhaps,  no  evil  con 
sequences  would  have  followed  this  hard  labor,  if 
every  thing  else  had  gone  well  with  Katy.  The  girls 
who  sold  the  candy  had  for  some  time  caused  her 
considerable  trouble  and  anxiety.  Very  often  they 
lost  their  money,  or  pretended  to  do  so,  and  three  or 
four  of  them  had  resorted  to  Ann  Grippen's  plan  of 
playing  "  tricks  upon  travellers."  She  had  to  dis 
charge  a  great  many,  and  to  accept  the  services  of 
those  whom  she  did  not  know,  and  who,  by  various 
means,  contrived  to  cheat  her  out  of  the  money  re 
ceived  from  the  sales  of  the  candy.  These  things 
annoyed  her  very  much,  and  she  cast  about  her  for  a 
remedy. 

One  day,  three  girls,  each  of  whom  had  been  sup- 
olied  with  half  a  dollar's  worth  of  candy,  did  not  ap 
pear  to  account  for  the  proceeds.  Here  was  a  loss 
of  a  dollar  in  one  day.  Such  things  as  these  are  tho 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  RKDBURN. 

common  trials  of  business;  but  Katy,  who  was  so 
scrupulously  honest  and  just  herself,  was  severely 
tried  by  them.  It  was  not  the  loss  of  the  money 
only,  but  the  dishonesty  of  the  girls  that  annoyed  her. 

"What  shall  be  done,  mother?"  said  she,  anx 
iously,  when  the  loss  was  understood  to  be  actual. 
"  I  can't  find  these  girls.  I  don't  even  know  their 
names." 

"  Probably,  if  you  did  find  them,  you  could  not 
obtain  any  satisfaction." 

"  I  went  to  see  one  girl's  mother  the  other  day,  you 
know,  and  she  drove  me  out  of  her  house,  and  called 
me  vile  names." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  a  plan,"  continued  Mrs.  Red- 
burn,  "  though  I  don't  know  as  it  would  work  well." 

"Any  thing  would  work  better  than  this  being 
constantly  cheated ;  for  it  is  really  worse  for  the  girls 
than  it  is  for  us.  I  have  often  felt  that  those  who 
cheat  us  are  the  real  sufferers.  I  would  a  good  deal 
rather  be  cheated  than  cheat  myself." 

"  You  are  right,  Katy ;  and  that  is  a  Christian  view 
of  the  subject.     I  suppose  we  are  in  duty  bound  to 
keep  these  girls  as  honest  as  we  can." 
19* 


222  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OH 

"  What  is  your  plan,  mother  ?  "  asked  Katy. 

"  We  will  sell  them  the  candy,  instead  of  employ 
ing  them  to  sell  it  for  us." 

"But  they  won't  pay  us." 

"  Let  them  pay  in  advance.  We  will  sell  them  the 
oandy  at  eight  cents  a  dozen.  Any  girl,  who  wants 
two  dozen  sticks,  must  bring  sixteen  cents." 

"  I  don't  believe  we  can  find  any  customers." 

"  We  can  try  it.  For  a  time,  probably,  the  sales 
will  be  less." 

"  Very  well,  mother,  we  will  try  it ;  for  I  think  it 
would  be  better  to  keep  them  honest,  even  if  we 
don't  sell  more  than  half  so  much." 

When  the  girls  appeared  the  next  morning  to  re 
ceive  their  stock,  it  was  announced  to  them  that  the 
business  would  thereafter  be  conducted  on  a  different 
basis ;  that  they  must  pay  for  their  candy  before  they 
got  it,  and  thus  become  independent  merchants  them 
selves.  Most  of  them  were  unable  to  comply  with 
the  terms,  and  begged  hard  to  be  trusted  one  day 
more.  Katy  was  firm,  for  she  saw  that  they  would 
be  more  likely  to  be  dishonest  that  day,  to  revenge 
themselves  for  the  working  of  the  new  system. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     223 

The  girls  were  not  all  dishonest,  or  even  a  ma 
jority  of  them,  but  the  plan  must  be  applied  to  all. 
Most  of  them  went  home,  therefore,  and  shortly  re 
turned  with  money  enough  10  buy  one  or  two  dozen 
sticks.  As  Mrs.  Kedburn  had  predicted,  the  effect 
of  the  adoption  of  the  new  plan  was  unfavorable  for 
a  few  days.  The  obstinate  onos  <vould  not  buy,  hop 
ing  to  make  the  wholesale  dea?ei  go  back  to  the  old 
plan.  After  a  week  or  two,  however,  they  began  to 
come  back,  one  by  one,  and  the  trade  rather  increased 
than  diminished ;  for  many  of  the  young  merchants, 
having  the  responsibility  of  selling  out  all  the  stock 
imposed  upon  them,  used  greater  exertion  than  be 
fore,  and  strong  efforts  almost  always  produced  some 
success. 

Thus  the  business  went  on  very  prosperously, 
though  Mrs.  Redburn  and  Katy  were  obliged  to  work 
very  hard  —  so  hard  that  the  former  began  to  experi 
ence  a  return  of  her  old  complaint.  The  affectionate 
daughter  was  frightened  when  she  first  mentioned 
the  fact,  and  begged  her  not  to  work  any  more. 

"What  shall  I  do,  Katy?"  asked  she,  with  a 
amile. 


224  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  Let  me  make  the  candy,"  replied  Katy.  "  I  am 
strong  enough." 

"  No,  Katy,  you  are  not.  I  am  afraid  you  are  in 
juring  yourself  now." 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  not.  But  I  can't  bear  to  think 
of  your  being  sick  again." 

"  We  must  look  out  for  our  health,  Katy ;  that 
ought  to  be  the  first  of  our  earthly  considerations." 

"  We  ought,  indeed,  mother ;  so,  if  you  please,  1 
shall  not  let  you  pull  any  more  candy." 

"  Shall  I  save  my  own  health  at  the  expense  of 
yours  ? " 

"  I  shall  get  along  very  well.     I  feel  very  strong." 

"  You  are  not  very  strong  ;  I  have  reproached  my 
self  a  great  many  times  for  letting  you  do  so  much 
as  you  have.  I  have  felt  the  pain  for  a  fortnight,  and 
though  I  greatly  fear  I  shall  have  a  return  of  my 
complaint,  I  cannot  let  you  do  all  this  work.  We 
are  neither  of  us  fit  to  perform  such  hard  labor,  and 
both  of  us  must  be  relieved  from  it.  I  shall  go  out 
ro-morro\v,  and  make  a  business  of  finding  a  person 
to  do  this  work  for  us." 

Mrs.  Redburn  did  try,  but  she  tried  in  vain.     It 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     22,> 

wa«  odd,  queer,  strange  work,  as  the  women  called  itv 
and  they  didn't  want  to  do  any  thing  of  the  kind. 
Katy  proposed  that  they  should  employ  a  man ;  and 
when  they  finally  found  one,  he  was  a  stupid  fellow, 
and  they  much  preferred  to  do  the  work  themselves, 
to  seeing  him  daub  the  house  all  over  with  the  candy, 
and  leave  it  half  done. 

They  persevered,  however,  in  their  efforts  to  find  a 
person,  and  after  trying  half  a  dozen,  who  could  not 
or  would  not  do  the  work,  they  gave  it  up  in  despair. 
But  not  long  were  they  permitted  to  struggle  with 
the  severe  toil  which  their  circumstances  imposed 
upon  them;  for  on  tne  night  before  Christmas,  when 
a  large  demand  for  candy  was  anticipated,  and  both 
of  them  had  worked  very  hard,  Mrs.  Redbnrn  fainted 
and  fell  upon  the  floor.  It  was  in  this  manner  that 
she  had  been  taken  at  the  commencement  of  her 
former  long  sickness,  and  to  Katy  the  future  looked 
dark  and  gloomy.  But  she  did  not  give  up.  She 
applied  herself,  with  all  her  energies,  to  the  restora 
tion  of  her  mother ;  and  when  she  was  partially  con 
scious,  she  attempted  to  conduct  her  to  the  bed. 
The  poor  woman's  strength  was  all  gone,  and 


226  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OH 

Katy  was  obliged  to  call  in  Mrs.  Howard  to  assist 
her. 

Mrs.  Redburn  suffered  the  most  severe  and  racking 
pains  through  the  night,  and  at  about  twelve  o'clock, 
Katy  went  to  Mr.  Sneed's  house,  and  calling  up 
Simon,  begged  him  to  go  for  a  doctor.  But  the  phy 
sician's  art  seemed  powerless  to  soothe  her.  All  night 
long  the  devoted  daughter,  like  an  angel  of  mercy, 
hovered  around  the  bed,  and  did  all  she  could  in  vain 
attempts  to  ease  the  sufferer's  pain. 

Poor  Katy  !  The  sun  of  prosperity  had  set,  and 
the  night  of  adversity  was  coming  on. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF     KATY    REDBUHN.  227 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

KATY    STRUGGLES    BRAVELY    THROUGH    A    SERIES    Ot 
TRIALS. 

THE  morning  sun  rose  clear  and  bright,  casting  a 
flood  of  light  into  the  chamber  of  the  sick  mother, 
watched  over  by  the  beloved  child.  It  was  Christ 
mas,  and  all  over  the  Christian  world  arose  pirans  of 
praise  for  the  birth  of  the  Saviour.  The  sufferer  was 
conscious  of  the  fact,  and  a  sweet  smile  played  upon 
her  lips,  as  she  thought  of  Jesus  —  that  he  had  lived 
and  died  for  her.  Pain,  that  could  rack  the  bones 
and  triumph  over  the  weak  body,  was  powerless  to 
subdue  the  loving,  trusting  spirit,  that  reposed  gently 
on  Him  who  has  invited  the  weary  to  a  present  and 
an  eternal  rest. 

*'  Katy,"  said  Mrs.  Redburn,  in  a  faint  whisper. 

"  1  am  here,  mother,"  replied  she,  bending  over  her, 
and  endeavoring  to  anticipate  her  unspoken  desire. 


228  POOK  A.XD   PROUD,  oa 

"  Is  the  hymn  book  on  the  table  ?  " 
u  Here  it  is,  mother." 

Y-    ' 

"  Won't  you  read  me  a  hymn  ?  "  ,5  -  " 
4k  What  shall  I  read  ?  "  asked  Katy,  who  could  with 
difficulty  keep  back  the  flood  of  tears  that  rose  up 
from  her  heart.  ( 

"  *  Come,  said  Jesus'  sacred  voice.'  "  i  s 
Katy  opened  the  book  to  the  beautiful  hymn  com 
mencing  with  this  line,  and  in  a  voice  broken  by  the 
emotions  she  could  not  wholly  control,  she  read  it 
through.  The  smile  that  played  on  her  mother's  faca 
showed  how  deep  and  pure  was  the  consolation  sha 
derived  from  the  touching  poetry.  She  could  smile 
while  racking  pains  tortured  her  frame,  while  her 
frail  body  seemed  hardly  to  retain  its  hold  upon  mor 
tality.  How  blessed  the  hope  that  pours  its  heavenly 
balm  into  the  wounds  of  the  sufferer  ! 

Poor  Katy  was  painfully  impressed  by  the  appear 
ance  and  conduct  of  her  mother.  »he  had  never 
before  seen  her  so  calm  and  resigned  to  those  dread 
ful  sufferings.  She  had  heard  her  complain  and 
murmur  at  her  hard  lot,  and  wonder  why  she  should 
be  thus  sorely  afflicted.  She  feared  that  some  appalU 


THE    FOUTUXES    OF    KATY    JREDBURN.  229 

ing  event,  which  she  dared  not  define  and  call  by  its 
name,  was  about  to  happen.  She  dared  not  think  of 
the  future,  and  she  wondered  that  her  mother  could 
bo  so  calm  while  she  endured  so  mucii. 

"  Katy,"  said  Mrs.  Redburn,  after  the  long  silence 
that  followed  the  reading  of  the  hymn,  "  I  feel  very 
weak  and  ill.  Take  my  hand." 

"You  are  burning  up  with  fever!"  exclaimed 
Katy,  as  she  clasped  the  hand,  and  felt  the  burning, 
throbbing  brow  of  her  mother. 

"  I  am ;  but  do  not  be  alarmed,  Katy.  Can  you 
be  very  calm  ?  " 

"  I  will  try." 

*'  For  I  feel  very  sick,  but  I  am  very  happy.  I  c-in 
almost  believe  that  the  triumph  of  faith  has  already 
begun  in  my  soul.  The  world  looks  very  dim  to  me." 

"  Nay,  mother,  dcu't  say  so." 

**  I  only  mean  that  as  heaven  seems  nearer,  my 
hold  upon  earth  is  less  strong.  You  must  be  very 
resolute,  my  child,  for  I  feel  as  though  the  sands  of 
life  were  fast  ebbing  out;  and  that  in  a  few  hours 
more  I  shall  be  '  where  the  wicked  cease  from  trou 
bling,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest/  If  it  were  not  fci 
20 


230  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

leaving  you,  Katy,  I  could  wish  to  bid  farewell  to 
earth,  and  go  up  to  my  eternal  home,  even  on  this 
bright,  beautiful  Christmas  day." 

"  O  mother  !  "  sobbed  Katy,  unable  any  longer  to 
restrain  the  expression  of  her  emotion. 

"  Do  not  weep,  my  child  ;  I  may  be  mistaken  ;  yet 
I  feel  as  though  God  was  about  to  end  my  sufferings 
on  earth,  and  I  am  willing  to  go." 

"  O,  no,  mother  !  It  cannot  be  !  "  exclaimed  Katy, 
gazing  earnestly,  through  her  tearful  eyes,  upon  tho 
pale  but  flushed  cheek  of  the  patient  sufferer. 

" 1  only  wish  to  prepare  you  for  the  worst.  I  may 
get  well  ;  and  for  your  sake,  I  have  prayed  that  I 
may.  And,  Katy,  I  have  never  before  felt  prepared 
to  leave  this  world,  full  of  trial  and  sorrow  as  it  has 
been  to  me.  Whatever  of  woe,  and  want,  and  dis 
appointment  it  has  been  my  lot  to  confront,  has  been 
a  blessing  in  disguise.  I  feel  like  a  new  creature.  I 
feel  reconciled  to  live  or  die,  as  God  ordains." 

"  Do  not  look  on  the  dark  side,  mother,"  sobbed 
Katy. 

"Nay,  child,  I  am  looking  ca  the  bright  side,"  re 
turned  Mrs.  Redburn,  faintly.  "  Every  thing  looks 


THE    FORTUNES    OP    KATY    REDBURN.  2J3l 

bright  to  me  now.  Life  looks  bright,  and  I  feel  that 
I  could  be  happy  for  many  years  with  you,  for  you 
have  been  a  good  daughter.  Death  looks  bright,  for 
it  is  the  portal  of  the  temple  eternal  in  the  heavens, 
where  is  joy  unspeakable.  I  am  too  weak  to  talk 
more,  Katy ;  you  may  read  me  a  chapter  from  the 
New  Testament." 

The  devoted  daughter  obeyed  this  request,  and 
she  had  scarcely  finished  the  chapter  before  the  girls 
came  for  their  candy.  She  was  unwilling  to  leave 
her  mother  alone  even  for  a  minute  ;  so  she  sent  one 
of  them  over  to  request  the  attendance  of  Mrs. 
Howard,  and  the  good  woman  took  her  place  by  the 
side  of  the  sufferer. 

Katy,  scarcely  conscious  what  she  was  doing,  —  for 
her  heart  was  with  her  mother,  —  supplied  each  girl 
with  her  stock  of  candy,  and  received  the  money 
for  it. 

"  You  need  not  come  to-morrow,"  she  said  to 
them,  as  they  were  departing. 

"  Not  come  !  "  exclaimed  several.  "  What  shall 
tve  do  for  candy  ?  " 

"  We  cannot  make  any  now ;  my  mothei  is  verj 
eick." 


232  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 

44 1  get  my  living  by  selling  candy, v  said  one  of 
them.  "  I  shan't  have  any  thing  to  pay  my  board  if 
I  can't  sell  candy." 

"  Poor  Mary !  I  am  sorry  for  you." 

This  girl  was  an  orphan  whose  mother  had  re 
cently  died,  and  she  had  taken  up  the  business  of 
selling  candy,  which  enabled  her  to  pay  fifty  cents  a 
week  for  her  board,  at  the  house  of  a  poor  widow. 
Katy  knew  her  history,  and  felt  very  sad  as  she 
thought  of  her  being  deprived  of  the  means  of 
support. 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  shall  do,"  sighed  Mary. 

"  I  have  to  take  care  of  my  mother  now,  and  shall 
not  havfe  time  to  make  candy,"  said  Katy. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  give  up  for  good  ? "  asked  one 
of  them. 

"  I  don't  know." 

This  question  suggested  some  painful  reflections 
to  Katy.  If  they  stopped  making  candy,  she  and 
her  mother,  as  well  as  orphan  Mary,  would  be  de 
prived  of  the  means  of  support.  She  trembled  as 
she  thought  of  the  future,  even  when  she  looked  for 
ward  only  a  few  weeks.  There  was  not  more  than 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBCRX.     233 

ten  dollars  in  the  house,  for  they  had  but  a  short 
time  before  paid  for  their  winter's  coal,  and  at  con 
siderable  expense  largely  replenished  their  wardrobes. 
The  rent  would  be  due  in  a  week,  and  it  would  re 
quire  more  than  half  they  had  to  pay  it. 

Katy  was  appalled  as  she  thought  of  the  low  state 
of  their  purse,  and  dreaded  lest  some  fearful  calamity 
might  again  overtake  them.  It  was  plain  to  her  that 
she  could  not  give  up  her  business,  even  for  a  week, 
without  the  danger  of  being  again  reduced  to  actual 
want.  She  therefore  reversed  her  decision,  and  told 
the  girls  they  might  come  as  usual  the  next  day. 

When  they  had  gone  she  shed  a  few  bitter  tears 
at  the  necessity  which  the  circumstances  imposed 
upon  her  of  working  while  her  heart  revolted  at  the 
idea  of  being  any  where  but  at  the  bedside  of  her 
sick  mother.  Then  she  lamented  that  they  had  not 
dispensed  with  many  articles  of  luxury  while  they 
had  plenty  of  money,  and  saved  more  of  it  for  such 
a  sad  time  as  the  present.  B  it  it  was  of  no  use  to 
repine  ;  she  had  only  to  make  the  best  of  her  situ 
ation. 

A.mid  all  these  discouragements  came  a  bright  ray 
20* 


234  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OH 

of  sunshine  —  the  brightest  that  could  possibly  have 
shone  on  the  pathway  of  the  weeping  daughter. 

Early  in  the  forenoon  came  the  physician,  who 
carefully  examined  his  patient,  speaking  cheerfully 
and  kindly  to  her  all  the  while.  The  sufferer 
watched  his  expression  very  narrowly,  as  he  bent 
over  her  and  questioned  her  in  regard  to  her  pains. 
He  looked  very  serious,  which  Mrs.  Iledburn  inter 
preted  as  unfavorable  to  her  recovery,  not  consider 
ing  that  he  was  engaged  in  profound  thought,  and 
therefore  his  countenance  would  naturally  wear  an 
earnest  look.  Presently  she  sent  Katy  to  get  her 
some  drink,  not  because  she  wanted  it,  but  to  pro 
cure  her  absence  for  a  short  time. 

"  Do  you  think  I  shall  get  well  ? "  asked  Mrs. 
Redburn,  as  soon  as  the  door  closed  behind  Katy. 

"  A  person  who  is  very  sick  is,  of  course,  always 
in  danger,  which  may  be  more  or  less  imminent,"  re 
plied  the  doctor,  with  professional  indirectness. 

"  I  beg  of  you,  doctor,  do  not  conceal  from  me  mj 
true  situation." 

"  I  cannot  foresee  the  result,  my  good  woman 

'•  Do  you  think  there  is  any  hope  for  me?  " 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REI/j3URN.  235 

"  Certainly  there  is." 

"  Tell  me,  I  implore  you,  what  you  think  of  my 
case,"  pleaded  the  sufferer,  in  feeble  tones.  "  I  felt 
this  morning  that  my  end  was  very  near." 

"  O,  no ;  it  is  not  so  bad  as  that.  I  should  say 
you  had  as  many  as  five  chances  in  ten  to  be  on  youi 
feet  in  a  fortnight." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  regard  your  case  as  a  critical  one." 

"  I  wish  you  had  told  me  so  last  night.  It  would 
have  saved  my  poor  child  a  very  bitter  pang." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  you  thought  yourself  alarm 
ingly  sick,  or  I  certainly  should  ;  for  such  an  opinion 
on  your  part  would  do  more  to  bring  about  a  fatal 
result  than  could  be  counteracted  by  the  most  skilful 
treatment.  A  physician  does  not  hold  the  issues  of 
life  and  death ;  he  can  only  assist  nature,  as  the 
patient  may  by  a  cheerful  view  of  his  case.  This  is 
not  your  old  complaint ;  you  have  taken  cold,  and 
have  considerable  fever ;  but  I  think  it  is  a  very 
hopeful  case." 

The  return  of  Katy  interrupted  the  conversation ; 
but  the  doctor's  opinion  was  immediately  imparted  to 
her,  and  it  sent  a  thrill  of  joy  to  her  heart. 


236  POOR   AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  was  low-spirited  this  morning,  Katy,"  said 
Mrs.  Redburn,  when  the  physician  had  gone.  "  I 
really  felt  as  though  my  end  was  rapidly  approach 
ing.  I  am  sorry  I  mentioned  my  thoughts  to  you." 

"  It  was  all  for  the  best,  I  suppose,"  replied  Katy. 

But  Mrs.  Redburn  was  very  sick  ;  and  even  now 
the  disease  might  have  a  fatal  termination.  The  best 
of  care  would  be  required  to  restore  her  to  health, 
and  Katy  was  very  anxious.  Her  mother  was  still 
suffering  the  most  acute  pain. 

The  doctor  had  left  a  prescription,  and  Katy  was 
again  obliged  to  call  in  Mrs.  Howard  while  she  went 
to  the  apothecary's  to  procure  it ;  but  the  good 
woman  declared  she  was  glad  to  come,  and  would 
bring  her  work  and  stay  all  the  forenoon.  The 
medicine,  when  obtained,  to  some  extent  relieved  the 
sufferer's  pain. 

As  her  presence  was  not  required  in  the  chamber, 
Katy  went  down  stairs  to  what  she  called  the  candy 
room.  She  had  an  hour  or  two  to  spare,  and  she  put 
on  the  kettle  with  the  intention  of  making  a  part  ol 
the  next  day's  candy.  She  was  nearly  worn  out  by 
watching  and  anxiety,  and  not  fit  *o  peiform  such 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURV.     2«>1 

hard  work  ;  but  weak  and  weary  as  she  felt,  hei 
spirit  was  still  earnest,  and  she  resolutely  commenced 
her  labors. 

At  noon  she  had  made  half  the  quantity  required. 
Mrs.  Howard  was  then  obliged  to  go  home,  and 
attend  to  her  own  family,  for  she  had  two  children 
besides  Tommy,  who  had  not  yet  returned  from  the 
East  Indies.  Mrs.  Kcdburn  was  very  restless  during 
the  afternoon,  and  could  not  be  left  alone  for  more 
than  a  short  time  at  once.  Mrs.  Howard  had  prom 
ised  to  come  again  in  the  evening,  and  make  the  rest 
of  the  candy  ;  but  Charley  came  home  from  school 
quite  sick,  seemingly  threatened  with  the  scarlet 
fever,  so  that  she  could  not  keep  her  promise.  Mrs. 
Sneed,  however,  dropped  in,  and  consented  to  remain 
for  two  hours,  which  enabled  Katy  to  make  the  rest 
of  the  candy. 

By  this  time  the  poor  girl  was  completely  worn 
out.  Her  resolute  will,  even,  could  no  longer  impart 
its  strength  to  the  body.  Her  mother  worried  sadly 
about  her,  and  finally  induced  her  to  lie  down  on  the 
bed  by  her  side,  on  condition  that  she  should  be 
awakened  in  an  hour.  In  this  manner  she  obtained 


238  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

a  few  hours  sleep  during  the  night ;  but  these  severe 
labors  were  a  fearful  task  to  be  imposed  upon  a  mere 
child. 

The  next  day  Mrs.  Redburn,  who  could  not  fail  to 
observe  Katy's  pale  face  and  sunken  eye,  fretted  so 
much  about  her  that  she  was  obliged  to  promise  she 
would  not  attempt  to  make  any  more  candy.  Mrs. 
Howard's  son  was  still  very  sick,  so  that  she  was  un 
able  to  render  much  assistance.  The  rest  of  the 
neighbors,  though  kindly  disposed,  had  their  own 
families  to  care  for,  and  could  do  very  little  for 
others. 

With  what  slight  aid  her  friends  could  afford,  Katy 
struggled  through  a  week,  when  Dr.  Flynch  appeared, 
and  demanded  the  rent.  There  was  but  little  more 
than  money  enough  left  to  pay  it,  but  Katy  would 
not  ask  him  for  any  indulgence,  and  paid  him  in  full. 

In  a  few  days  more  the  purse  was  empty.  Katy'a 
most  dreaded  hour  had  come.  She  had  no  money, 
and  almost  every  day  some  new  thing  was  required 
for  her  mother.  But  this  time  she  had  friends,  and 
she  determined  to  use  them,  as  all  true  friends  wish 
to  be  used  in  the  day  of  sorrow  and  trial.  Aftei 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    RATY    REDliURN.  23  j 

tonsiderabb  debate  with  herself,  she  decided  to  ap 
ply  to  Mrs.  Gordon  for  a  loan  of  twenty  dollars.  She 
was  still  poor  and  proud,  and  she  could  not  endure 
the  thought  of  asking  a  loan,  which  might  be  re 
garded 'as  a  gift,  or  which,  by  her  own  inability  to 
pay  it,  might  virtually  become  such  ;  therefore  she 
proposed  to  present  her  father's  silver  watch  ae 
security  for  the  payment  of  the  debt. 


240  PoOR    AND    PROUD,    OB 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

KATY    RESORTS    TO    A    LOAN. 

KATY  was  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  mission 
which  her  duty  seemed  to  impose  upon  her.  Again 
she  felt  the  crushing  weight  of  poverty,  and  pride  rose 
up  to  throw  obstacles  in  her  path.  She  was  a  child 
of  twelve,  and  to  ask  a  loan  of  twenty  dollars,  though 
she  offered  sufficient  security  for  the  payment  of  the 
debt,  seemed  like  demanding  a  great  deal  of  her 
friends — like  inviting  them  to  repose  a  vast  amount 
of  confidence  in  her  ability  and  honesty.  They 
would  not  want  the  watch  ;  it  would  be  of  no  value 
to  them  ;  and  the  more  she  considered  the  matter, 
the  more  like  an  act  of  charity  appeared  the  favor  she 
was  about  to  ask. 

More  than  once  on  her  way  to  Temple  Sfreet  did 
she  stop  short,  resolved  to  get  the  money  of  some 
other  person  —  the  grocer,  Mr.  Sneed,  or  even  of  a 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KAIY  REDBURN.     241 

pawnbroker  ;  but  as  often  she  rebuked  the  pride  that 
tormented  her  like  a  demon,  and  went  forward  again. 
She  stood  some  time  at  Mrs.  Gordon's  door  before 
she  had  the  resolution  to  ring  the  beil. 

44  What  right  have  I  to  be  so  proud  ?  "  said  she, 
grasping  the  bell  handle.  "  I  must  get  this  money, 
or  my  mother  may  suffer." 

She  rang  with  a  force  that  must  have  astonished 
Michael,  and  led  him  to  think  some  extraordinary 
character  had  arrived  ;  for  he  ran  to  the  door  at  full 
speed,  and  burst  out  into  a  violent  fit  of  laughter, 
when  he  saw  no  one  but  the  little  candy  merchant. 

44  Good  morning  to  you,  Katy.  Are  you  nervom 
this  morning  ?  "  said  he. 

44  Good  morning,  Michael.     I  am  not  very  nervous." 

•4  I  thought  you  would  pull  down  the  boll,"  he 
added,  good  naturedly. 

"  I  didn't  mean  to,  Michael  ;  I  hope  you  will  ex 
cuse  me  if  I  did  any  harm." 

4k  Not  a  bit  of  harm  ;  but  you're  looking  as  sober 
as  a  deacon.  What  ails  you,  Katy  ?  " 

44 1  feel  very  sad,  Michael ;  for  my  mother  is  very 
sick,  and  I  don't  know  as  she  will  ever  get  well." 
21 


242  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  Indeed  ?  I'm  sorry  to  hear  that  of  nor  ;  "  and 
Michael,  whatever  he  felt,  looked  very  much  con 
cerned  about  Mrs.  Redburn's  health. 

'*  Is  Mrs.  Gordon  at  home  ?  " 

"  She  isn't." 

"  Is  Miss  Grace  :  " 

'    "  Neither  of   them  ;  they  went  to  Baltimore  ten 
days  ago ;  but  I  am  expecting  them  back  every  day." 

Katy's  heart  sunk  within  her;  for  now  that  Mrs. 
Gordon  was  not  at  hand,  she  did  not  feel  like  asking 
any  other  person ;  and  if  the  case  had  not  been 
urgent,  she  would  have  been  satisfied  to  return  home, 
and  regard  the  lady's  absence  as  a  sufficient  excuse 
for  not  procuring  the  money. 

"  You  w-t.nt  to  see  her  very  much  ?  "  asked  Michael. 

"  Very  much,  indeed." 

*•  Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you  ?  " 

"  No,  Michael." 

"  Perhaps  I  can,  Katy." 

"  No,  I'm  much  obliged  to  you." 

"  If  it's  any  thing  in  the  house  you  want,  I  can 
get  it  for  you." 

'*  No  ;   1  must  see  Mrs.  Gordon." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  BEDBURX.     243 

"  If  it's  any  nice  preserve   or  jelly  you  want,  just 
lay  the  word,  and  I'll  bring  it  to  you  at  on2e." 

"  I  do  not  want  any  thing  of  that  kind.     Do  you 
think  Mrs.  Gordon  will  return  by  to-morrow  ?  " 

"  I  thought  she  would  be  here  yesterday,  and  she 
may  come  to-night." 

14  Very  well  ;  I  will,  perhaps,  call  again  to-mor 
row  ;  "  and  she  turned  to  leave. 

"  I'll  tell  Mrs.  Gordon  you  came.  Stop  a  minute 
Katy.  Won't  you  tell  me  what  you  want  ?  " 

"  I  would  rather  not,  Michael ;  but  I  will  come 
again  to-morrow." 

"  See  here,  Katy ;  may  be  you're  short  of  money. 
If  you  are,  I  have  a  matter  of  three  hundred  dollars 
in  the  Savings  Bank  ;  and  you  may  be  sure  you  shall 
have  every  cent  of  it  if  you  want  it." 

This  was  a  very  liberal  offer,  though  it  is  probable 
he  did  not  think  she  would  want  any  considerable 
portion  of  it,  or  that  she  could  even  comprehend  the 
.meaning  of  so  large  a  sum.  Katy  was  sorely  tempted 
to  negotiate  with  him  for  the  loan  ;  but  she  was  not 
sure  that  it  would  be  proper  to  borrow  money  of  the 
servant,  and  perhaps  Mrs.  Gordon  would  not  like  it. 


244  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  thank  you,  Michael ;  you  are  very  kind,  but  ] 
think  I  would  rather  see  Mrs.  Gordon." 

"  I  have  a  matter  of  five  or  six  dollars  in  my  pocket 
now  ;  and  if  that'll  be  of  any  service  to  you,  take  it 
and  welcome." 

Katy  stopped  to  think.  A  few  dollars  would  be 
all  that  she  needed  before  the  return  of  Mrs.  Gordon  ; 
and  yet  she  did  not  feel  like  accepting  it.  What 
would  the  lady  say  on  her  return,  when  told  that  she 
had  borrowed  money  of  her  servant  ?  Yet  the  ser 
vant  had  a  kind  heart,  and  really  desired  to  serve  her. 
Was  il  not  pride  that  prevented  her  from  accepting 
his  offer  ?  Did  she  not  feel  too  proud  to  place  herself 
under  obligations  to  the  servant  ?  She  felt  rebuked 
at  her  presumption ;  for  what  right  had  she  to  make 
such  distinctions  ?  If  she  had  been  a  lady,  like  Mrs. 
Gordon,  she  might  have  been  excusable  for  cherish 
ing  such  a  pride ;  but  she  was  a  poor  girl ;  she  was 
actually  in  want. 

"  Michael,  you  are  so  good,  that  I  will  tell  you  my 
etory,"  said  she,  conquering  her  repugnance. 

"  Just  come  in  the  house,  then  ;  "  and  he  led  her 
into  the  sitting  room  ;  being,  in  the  absence  of  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     245- 

Bi  stress,  the  lord  and  master  of   the   mansion,  and 
feeling  quite  at  home  in  that  position. 

In  a  few  words  she  explained  to  him  her  situation, 
though  her  rebellious  pride  caused  her  to  paint  the 
picture  in  somewhat  brighter  colors  than  the  truth 
would  fully  justify.  She  stated  her  intention  to 
borrow  twenty  dollars  of  Mrs.  Gordon,  and  offer  hei 
the  watch  as  security,  at  the  same  time  exhibiting 
the  cherished  treasure. 

'*  Now,  Michael,  if  you  will  lend  me  three  dollars 
till  Mrs.  Gordon  returns,  I  will  pay  you  then,  for  I 
know  she  will  let  me  have  the  money  ;  or  at  least  let 
me  have  enough  to  pay  you,"  continued  she,  when 
she  had  finished  her  narrative. 

"  Indeed  I  will,  Katy  ! "  exclaimed  he,  promptly 
pulling  out  his  wallet.  "  And  if  you  will  come  a* 
this  time  to-morrow,  you  shall  have  the  whole  twenty 
dollars/'  H^^VM, 

"  Thank  you,  Michael." 

44  There's  six  dollars ;  take  it,  Katy,  and  my  bless 
ing  with  it." 

44  Only  three  dollars,  Michael,"  replied  Katy. 
firmly. 

21* 


•216  POOR    AXD    PROUD,    OR 

Michael  insisted,  but  all  his  persuasion  would  not 
induce  her  to  accept  more  than  the  sum  she  had 
mentioned,  and  he  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  yield 
the  point. 

"  Here  is  the  \\  atch,  Michael ;  you  shall  keep  that 
till  I  pay  you." 

"  Is  it  me  !"  exclaimed  he,  springing  to  his  feet, 
with  an  expression  very  like  indignation  on  hia 
countenance.  "  Sure,  you  don't  think  I'd  take  the 
watch  !  " 

"  Why  not  you  as  well  as  Mrs.  Gordon  ? "  asked 
Katy. 

"  She  didn't  take  it,"  replied  Michael,  triumph 
antly.  "  You  couldn't  make  her  take  it,  if  you  try  a 
month.  Don't  I  know  Mrs.  Gordon  ?  " 

"But  please  to  take  it;  I  should  feel  much  better 
if  you  would." 

"  Bad  luck  to  me  if  I  do  !  I  wouldn't  take  it 
to  save  my  neck  from  the  gallows.  Where's  my 
Irish  heart  ?  Did  I  leave  it  at  home,  or  did  I  bring 
'.t  with  me  to  America  ?  " 

44  If  you  will  not  take  it,  Michael " 

"  I  won't    " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  HEPBURN.     247 

*'  If  you  won't,  I  will  say  no  more  about  it," 
replied  Katy,  as  she  returned  the  watch  to  her  pocket. 
"  You  have  got  a  very  kind  heart,  and  I  shall  neve! 
forget  you  as  long  as  I  live." 

Katy,  after  glancing  at  the  portrait  of  the  roguish 
lady  that  hung  in  the  room,  took  leave  of  Michael, 
and  hastened  home.  On  her  way,  she  could  not 
banish  the  generous  servant  from  her  mind.  She 
could  not  understand  why  he  should  be  so  much 
interested  in  her  as  to  offer  the  use  of  all  he  had  ; 
and  she  was  obliged  to  attribute  it  all  to  the  im 
pulses  of  a  kind  heart.  If  she  had  been  a  little 
older,  she  might  have  concluded  that  the  old  maxim, 
slightly  altered,  would  explain  the  reason  ;  "  Like 
mistress,  like  man  ;  "  that  the  atmosphere  of  kind 
ness  and  charity  that  pervaded  the  house  had  inspired 
even  the  servants. 

11  Where  have  you  been,  Katy  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Red- 
burn,  as  she  entered  the  sick  chamber,  and  Mrs. 
Sneed  hastened  home. 

"  I  have  been  to  Mrs.  Gordon." 

"  What  for  ?  " 

"Katy  did  not  like  to  tell.     She  knew  it    would 


POOR  AND   PROUD,  OR 

make  her  mother  feel  very  unhappy  to  know  that  she 
had  borrowed  money  of  Mrs.  Gordon's  servant. 
kk  O,  I  went  up  to  see  her,"  replied  Katy. 
"  No  matter,  if  you  don't  like  to  tell  me,"  faintly 
replied  Mrs.  Redburn. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  mother,"  answered  Katy,  stung  by 
the  gentle  rebuke  contained  in  her  mother's  words. 

"  I  suppose  our  money  is  all  gone,"  sighed  the 
sick  woman. 

"  No,  mother  ;  see  here  !  I  have  three  dollars,"  and 
Katy  pulled  out  her  porte-monnaie,  anxious  to  save 
her  even  a  moment  of  uneasiness. 

But  in  taking  out  the  money  she  exhibited  the 
watch  also,  which  at  once  excited  Mrs.  Redburn's 
curiosity. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  with  that,  Katy  ? " 
nhe  asked.  "  Ah,  I  fear  I  was  right.  We  have  no 
money  !  Our  business  is  gone  !  Alas,- we  have  noth 
ing  to  hope  for  !  " 

"  O,  no,  mother,  it  is  not  half  so  bad  as  that !  " 
exclaimed  Katy.  "  I  went  up  to  Mrs.  Gordon  for 
the  purpose  of  borrowing  twenty  dollars  of  her  ;  I 
didn't  want  it  to  look  like  charity,  so  I  was  going  to 


THri    FORTUNKS    OK     KATY    REDBUBN.  249 

ask  her  to  keep  the  watch  till  it  was  paid.     That's 
all,  mother." 

"  And  she  refused  ?  " 

"  No  ;  she  was  not  at  home." 

'*  But  your  money  is  not  all  gone  ?  " 

Katy  wanted  to  say  it  was  not,  but  her  conscience 
would  not  let  her  practise  deception.  She  had 
the  three  dollars  which  she  had  just  borrowed  of 
Michael,  and  that  was  not  all  gone.  But  this  was 
not  the  question  her  mother  asked,  and  it  would  be 
a  lie  to  say  the  money  was  not  all  gone,  when  she 
fully  understood  the  meaning  of  the  question.  Per 
haps  it  was  for  her  mother's  good  to  deceive  her ; 
but  she  had  been  taught  to  feel  that  she  had  no  right 
to  do  evil  that  good  might  follow. 

"  It  was  all  gone,  but  I  borrowed  three  dollars," 
she  replied,  after  a  little  hesitation. 

44  Of  whom?" 

44  Of  Michael." 

44  Who  is  he  ?  " 

»•  Mrs.  Gordon's  man.'' 

4'  O  Katy  !  How  could  you  do  so  ?"  sighed  Mrs 
Redburn. 


250  POOR    A.ND    PROUD,    OR 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,  mother.  He  would  make  mb 
take  it ;  "  and  she  gave  all  the  particulars  of  her 
interview  with  Michael,  and  reviewed  the  considera 
tions  which  had  induced  her  to  accept  the  loan. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,  Katy.  My  pride  would 
not  have  let  me  borrow  of  a  servant ;  but  it  Is 
wicked  for  me  to  cherish  such  a  pride.  I  try  very 
hard  to  banish  it." 

"  Don't  talk  any  more  now,  mother.  We  are  too 
poor  to  be  too  proud  to  accept  a  favor  of  one  who  is 
in  a  humble  station,"  replied  Katy. 

"  I  don't  know  what  will  become  of  us,"  said  Mrs. 
Redburn,  as  she  turned  her  head  away  to  hide  the 
tears  that  flooded  her  eyes. 

Katy  took  up  the  Bible  that  lay  by  the  bed  side, 
and  turning  to  the  twenty-third  psalm,  she  read, 
'*  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd ;  I  shall  not  want.  He 
maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  ;  he  leadeth 
me  beside  the  still  waters." 

"  Go  on,  Katy ;  those  words  are  real  comfort," 
said  Mrs.  Redburn,  drying  her  tears.  "  I  know  it  is 
wicked  for  me  to  repine." 

Katy  read  the  whole  psalm,  and  followed  it  with 


THE  FOKTUXES  OF  KATY  REDBUR>.     25] 

others,  which  produced  a  healing  influence  upon  her 
mother's  mind,  and  she  seemed  to  forget  that  the 
purse  was  empty,  and  that  they  had  placed  them 
selves  under  obligations  to  a  servant. 

The  sufferer  rested  much  better  than  usual  that 
night,  and  Katy  was  permitted  to  sleep  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  —  a  boon  which  her  exhausted 
frame  very  much  needed.  About  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon,  Michael  paid  her  a  visit,  to  inform  her  that 
Mrs.  Gordon  had  just  arrived  ;  and  that,  when  he 
mentioned  her  case,  she  had  sent  him  down  to  re- 
quest  her  immediate  attendance  ;  and  that  his  mis 
tress  would  have  come  herself,  only  she  was  so  much 
fatigued  by  her  journey. 

Katy  could  not  leave  then,  for  she  had  no  one  to 
stay  with  her  mother  ;  but  Mrs.  Sneed  cov.ld  come 
in  an  hour.  Michael  hastened  home  with  tae  intel 
ligence  that  Mrs.  Redburn  was  better,  and  Katy  soon 
followed  him. 


2.52  POOR    AND    TROUD.    OR 


CHAPTER    XX. 

MRS.    GORDON    FEELS    FAINT,    AND    KATY    ENTERS    A 

NEW    SPHERE. 

ON  her  arrival  at  Temple  Street,  Katy  was  promptly 
admitted  by  Michael,  and  shown  in  the  sitting  room, 
where  Mrs.  Gordon  and  Grace  were  waiting  for  her. 

"  I  was  very  sorry  to  hear  that  your  mother  is  sick, 
Katy,"  said  the  former ;  "  and  I  should  have  paid 
you  a  visit,  instead  of  sending  for  you,  if  I  had  not 
been  so  much  exhausted  by  my  journey  from  Balti 
more." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  ma'am." 

"  Did  Dr.  Flynch  call  upon  you  at  the  first  of  the 
month  ?  " 

"  Yes,  ma'am ;  and  we  paid  the  rent  as  usual,"  re 
plied  Katy. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  did  so,  Katy ;  you  should  have 
told  him  that  you  were  not  in  a  condition  to  pay  the 
rent." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBURN. 

«« I  couldn't  tell  him  so,  he  is  so  cold  and  cruel. ' 

"I  think  you  misjudge  him,  for  he  has  a  really 
kind  heart,  and  would  not  have  distressed  you  for  all 
the  world.  Besides,  I  told  him  he  need  not  collect 
your  rent  any  time  when  you  did  not  feel  ready  to 
pay  it.  I  hope  he  gave  you  no  trouble  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am ;  I  didn't  give  him  a  chance,  for  1 
paid  him  as  soon  as  he  demanded  it ;  though  it  took 
nearly  all  the  money  we  had.  I  hope  you  will  excuse 
me,  ma'am,  but  I  haven't  liked  him  since  the  trouble 
we  had  a  year  ago,  when  he  accused  my  dear  mother 
of  telling  a  lie." 

"  Perhaps  he  was  hasty." 

"  I  forgive  him,  ma'am  ;  but  I  can't  help  thinking 
he  is  a  very  wicked  man,"  answered  Katy,  with  con 
siderable  emphasis. 

"  I  hope  not  so  bad  as  that ;  for  I  am  sure,  if  you 
had  told  him  it  was  not  convenient  for  you  to  pay  the 
rent,  he  would  not  have  insisted.  But  you  want 
some  assistance,  Katy  ?  " 

"Yes,  ma'am;  that  is,  I  want  to  borrow  some 
money,"  replied  Katy,  blushing  deeply. 

*'  That's  just  like  you, '  interposed  Grace,  laughing. 
22 


254  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

14 1  suppose  you  will  want  to  give  your  note  this 
time." 

"  I  don't  care  about  giving  a  note,  but  I  mean  in 
pay  the  money  back  again,  every  cent  of  it." 

"  And  the  interest  too,  I  suppose." 

"Yes,"  said  Katy,  though  she  had  not  a  very  clear 
idea  of  the  value  of  money,  as  an  article  of  mer 
chandise. 

"  Don't  distress  her,  Grace  ;  you  forget  that  her 
mother  is  very  sick,  and  she  cannot  feel  like  listening 
to  your  pleasantries,"  said  Mrs.  Gordon. 

*'  Forgive  me,  Katy,"  replied  Grace,  tenderly. 

Katy  burst  into  tears,  though  she  could  not  exactly 
tell  why.  She  was  overcome  with  emotion  as  the 
beautiful  young  lady  took  her  hand,  and  looked  so 
sorrowfully  in  her  face.  She  was  not  used  to  so  much 
kindness,  so  much  sympathy,  so  much  love  ;  for  it 
eecmed  as  though  both  Grace  and  her  mother  loved 
her —  that  their  hearts  beat  with  hers. 

"Don't  cry,  Katy;  I  am  sorry  I  said  a  word," 
pleaded  Grace.  "  I  would  not  have  hurt  your  feel 
ings  for  all  the  world." 

"  You  did  not  hurt  my  feelings ;  you  are  so  kind 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     255 

to  me  that  I  could  not  help  crying.  I  suppose  1  am 
very  silly." 

44  No,  you  are  not,  Katy  ;  now  dry  up  your  tears, 
and  tell  us  all  about  it,"  added  Mrs.  Gordon,  in  sooth 
ing  tones.  "  How  long  has  your  mother  been  sick  ?  " 

44  Almost  two  weeks." 

"  What  ails  her  ?  " 

*4  She  has  got  a  fever  ;  but  she  is  much  better  to 
day.  The  doctor  says  she  hasn't  got  it  very  "bad; 
but  she  has  been  very  sick,  I  think." 

44  Who  takes  care  of  her  ?  " 

4k  I  do,  ma'am." 

•'  You  !  She  must  need  a  great  deal  of  attention. 
But  who  takes  care  of  her  at  night  ?  " 

44 1  do,  ma'am.  I  have  been  up  a  great  deal  every 
night." 

44  Poor  child  !     It  is  enough  to  wear  you  out  " 

4*  I  wouldn't  mind  it  at  all,  if  I  had  nothing  else  to 
trouble  me." 

kk  What  other  troubles  have  you  ?  " 

*'  I  can't  make  any  candy  now,  and  haven't  made 
my  for  nearly  a  fortnight ;  so  that  we  have  no  money 
L-oming  in.  We  spent  nearly  all  we  had  in  buying 


'21*  POOE    AND    PKOUD,    OR 

our  winter  clothing  and  fuel.  It  worries  me  very 
much,  for  we  had  plenty  of  money  before  mother  was 
taken  sick." 

"  I  hope  you  haven't  wanted  for  any  thing." 

"No,  ma'am;  for  when  my  purse  was  empty  I 
came  up  here,  only  yesterday,  to  borrow  some  of  you, 
if  you  would  please  to  lend  it  to  me." 

"  Certainly  I  will,  my  child.  I  am  very  glad  you 
came." 

"  Michael  would  make  me  tell  what  I  wanted,  and 
then  he  let  me  have  three  dollars,  and  offered  to  let 
me  have  as  much  as  I  wanted.  I  didn't  know  as  you 
would  like  it  if  I  borrowed  money  of  your  servant." 

"  You  did  just  right ;  and  I  am  glad  that  Michael 
has  a  kind  heart.  Now,  how  much  money  do  you 
want  ?  " 

"  I  thought  I  would  ask  you  to  lend  me  twenty 
dollars;  and  just  as  soon,  after  mother  gets  well,  as 
I  can  gather  the  money  together,  I  will  pay  you  — 
and  the  interest,"  she  added,  glancing  at  Grace. 

"  Now,  Katy,  that  is  too  bad  !  "  exclaimed  Grace, 
catching  her  by  the  hand,  while  a  tear  started  from 
her  eye.  "  You  know  I  didn't  mean  that." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     257 

"  I  know  you  didn't ;  but  I  don't  know  much  about 
such  things,  and  thought  likely  it  was  right  for  us  to 
pay  interest  if  we  borrowed  money  " 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  give  you  twenty  dollars. 
Katy,  if  you  would  only  let  me ;  for  I  am  rich,  at 
well  as  mother  ;  and  I  certainly  should  not  think  of 
taking  interest." 

"  We  will  say  no  more  about  that,"  interrupted 
Mrs.  Gordon.  "  I  will  let  you  have  the  money  with 
the  greatest  pleasure,  for  I  know  you  will  make 
good  use  of  it." 

"  I  will,  indeed." 

"  And  you  must  promise  me  that  you  will  not  dis 
tress  yourself  to  pay  it  again,"  continued  the  kind 
lady,  as  she  took  out  her  purse. 

"  1  will  not  distress  myself,  but  I  will  pay  it  as 
soon  as  1  can." 

44  You  must  not  be  too  proud." 

44 No,  ma'am;  but  just  proud  enough." 

44  Yes,  that's  it,"  replied  Mrs.  Gordon,  smiling. 
"  Pride  is  a  very  good  thing  in  its  place.  It  keeps 
people  from  being  mean  and  wicked  sometimes  " 

«•  That's  true  pride,"  added  Katy. 
•22* 


258  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

"  Yes  ;  for  there  is  a  false  pride,  which  makes  peo 
ple  very  silly  and  vain  ;  which  keeps  them  from  doing 
their  duty  very  often.  You  have  none  of  this  kind 
of  pride." 

"  I  hope  not." 

"  Your  friend  Simon  Sneed,  whom  the  mayor  spoke 
to  me  about,  affords  us  a  very  good  example  of  the 
folly  of  cherishing  false  pride.  Where  is  Simon  now  ?  " 

"  He  keeps  in  a  store  in  Washington  Street ;  he  is 
a  salesman  now,  and  I  don't  think  he  is  so  foolish  as 
he  was." 

"  Perhaps  the  lesson  he  learned  did  him  good. 
But  I  am  keeping  you  away  from  your  mother,  Katy. 
Who  stays  with  her  while  you  are  away?  " 

"  Mrs.  Sneed  —  Simon's  mother." 

"  Then  she  is  a  good  woman." 

"  And  Simon  is  very  kind ;  he  has  done  a  great 
many  things  for  me,  and  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  do 
something  for  him  one  of  these  days." 

"  That's  right,  Katy.  Think  well  of  your  friends, 
though  others  speak  ill  of  them,"  said  Grace.  "  Ah, 
there  comes  the  carriage.  I  am  going  home  with 
yen,  Katy,  to  sec  your  mother." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    KATY    REDBT7R.N,  259 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Miss  Grace." 

"  Here  is  the  money,"  added  Mrs.  Gordon,  hand 
ing  her  a  little  roll  of  bills. 

"Thank  you,  ma'am,"  replied  Katy,  as  she  placed 
the  money  in  her  porte-monnaie.  "But " 

Here  she  came  to  a  full  stop,  and  her  face  was  as 
crimson  as  a  blush  rose ;  but  she  took  out  the  silver 
watch,  and  approached  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  What  were  you  going  to  say,  Katy?  " 

"  I  brought  this  watch  up,"  stammered  she. 

"What  for?" 

"  You  know  I  am  a  poor  girl ;  my  mother  is  a  pool 
woman,  and  we  didn't  want  you  to  think  you  were 
giving  us  the  money,  for  we  are  very  proud ;  that  is, 
my  mother  is  very  proud,  and  so  am  I  ;  and " 

Here  Katy  drew  a  long  breath,  and  came  to  a 
full  stop  again,  unable  to  say  what  she  wanted  to 
say. 

*'  If  you  want  any  thing  else,  Katy,  don't  hesitate 
to  mention  it ;  for  I  will  not  do  any  thing  to  mortify 
your  pride,  even  if  it  is  unreasonable,"  said  Mrs, 
Gordon.  "I  understand  you  perfectly;  the  twenty 
dollars  is  not  a  gift,  but  a  loan." 


260  POOR   AND    PROUD,    OH 

**  Yes,  ma'am ;  but  if  we  should  never  be  able  to 
pay  it,  then  it  would  be  a  gift." 

"  No,  it  wouldn't." 

"  I  think  so  ;  and  so  I  brought  this  watch,  which 
you  will  please  to  take  as  security  for  the  payment  of 
the  loan,"  said  Katy,  much  confused,  as  she  offered 
the  watch  to  Mrs.  Gordon. 

"  My  dear  child,  I  do  not  want  any  security.  Your 
word  is  just  as  good  as  your  bond." 

"  But  I  would  rather  you  would  take  it.  My 
mother  is  prouder  than  1  am,  for  she  wasn't  always 
as  poor  as  she  is  now." 

Katy  suddenly  clapped  her  hand  over  her  mouth, 
when  she  recollected  that  this  was  a  forbidden 
topic. 

"  Some  time  you  may  tell  me  all  about  your  mother  ; 
and  I  will  call  and  see  her  to-morrow,  and  help  you 
take  care  of  her." 

"  Please  to  take  the  watch,  ma'am." 

"  If  you  very  much  desire  it,  I  shall  do  so,  though 
I  cannot  take  it  as  security.  Is  this  the  watch  you 
carried  to  the  pawnbroker  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Gordon  as  shfl 
'ooh  the  treasure. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     26\ 

*'  Yes,  ma'am.      It  belonged  to  my  father." 

Mrs.  Gordon  turned  over  the  watch,  and  looked  at 
it  with  considerable  interest,  as  she  thought  of  it  as 
a  memento  of  the  dead,  and  how  highly  it  must  be 
prized  by  the  poor  woman. 

"Mercy!  what's  this!"  exclaimed  she,  starting 
back,  and  staggering  towards  her  chair. 

*'  What  is  the  matter,  mother  ?  "  cried  Grace,  run 
ning  to  her  side.  "  Are  you  ill  ?  " 

**  No,  Grace  ;  that  inscription  !  "  replied  Mrs.  Gor 
don,  faintly,  for  she  seemed  very  deeply  moved,  and 
on  the  point  of  swooning.  "  Bring  me  a  glass  of 
water." 

There  was  no  water  in  the  room,  but  Michael  was 
in  the  entry,  and  was  despatched  to  procure  it.  He 
returned  in  a  moment,  and  when  Mrs.  Gordon  had  in 
Borne  measure  recovered  from  the  sudden  shock, 
she  pointed  to  the  inscription  on  the  back  of  the 
watch :  — 

"M.  G. 

to 

J.  R. 
All  for  the  Best*' 


262  POOR    AXI)    PROUD,    OR 

"  What  doos  it  mean,  mother  ?  I  do  not  see  any 
thing  very  strange  about  that." 

"  I  have  seen  this  watch  before,"  she  replied,  stop 
ping  to  think.  "Where  did  your  mother  get  this 
watch,  Katy  ?  "  she  asked,  as  it  occurred  to  her  that 
she  might  be  arriving  at  a  conclusion  too  suddenly. 

'k  It  was  my  father's." 

"  Where  did  your  father  get  it  ?  Did  you  ever 
hear  your  mother  say  ?  " 

"  Yes,  ma'am  ;  her  father,  who  was  a  rich  Liver 
pool  merchant,  gave  it  to  her  husband,  my  father," 
replied  Katy,  who  felt  justified  in  revealing  what  her 
mother  had  told  her  to  keep  secret. 

"  Mercy  !  "  gasped  Mrs.  Gordon,  almost  overcome 
by  her  emotions. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  mother  ?  What  has  all  this 
to  do  with  you  ?  "  asked  Grace,  anxiously. 

"  Come  here,  Katy,  my  child,"  continued  Mrs. 
Gordon,  as  she  drew  the  little  candy  merchant  to  hoi 
Bide,  and  warmly  embraced  her.  "  Your  mother, 
Katy,  is  my  sister,  I  have  scarcely  a  doubt." 

"  Why.  mother !  Is  it  possible  ?  "  exclaimed 
Grace. 


THE    FOTITTTVKS    OF     KATY     REDBURX.  -(>3 

"  Tt  is  even  so.  Mrs.  Iledburn,  whose  name  we 
hf.ve  often  heard  mentioned  without  thinking  it 
might  be  the  wife  of  John  Redburn,  my  father's 
clerk,  is  my  sister.  I  had  given  her'  up,  and  have 
regarded  her  as  dead  for  more  than  ten  years.  But, 
Grace,  get  my  things,  and  I  will  go  to  her  at  once." 

"  Is  that  your  portrait,  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Katy, 
pointing  to  the  picture  of  the  mischievous  lady. 

"No,  child;  that  is  your  mother's  portrait." 

*'  1  almost  knew  it." 

"  It  was  taken  when  she  was  only  sixteen  years 
old.  She  was  a  gay,  wild  girl  then.  I  suppose  she 
is  sadly  changed  now." 

The  thought  completely  overcame  Mrs.  Gordon, 
and  throwing  herself  upon  a  sofa,  she  wept  like  a 
child.  She  thought  of  her  sister  suffering  from  pov 
erty  and  want,  while  she  had  been  rolling  in  opulence 
and  plenty.  Grace  tried  to  comfort  her,  but  it  was 
some  time  before  she  was  in  a  condition  to  enter  the 
carriage  which  was  waiting  at  the  door. 

"  What  an  adventure,  mother  !  "  exclaimed  Grace, 
as  she  seated  herself  by  the  side  of  Katy  ;  and  it  wag 
evident  she  had  a  vein  of  the  romantic  in  her  com 
position. 


264  POOR    AND    PHOUI),    OR 

"  Do  not  talk  to  me,  Grace.  My  heart  is  too  full 
for  words." 

"  But  I  may  talk  to  Katy  —  may  I  not?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  cousin  Katy,"  laughed  Grace ;  "  I  shall 
call  you  cousin,  though  you  are  not  really  my  cousin." 

"  Not  your  cousin  ?  "  said  Katy,  a  shade  of  disap 
pointment  crossing  her  animated  features. 

k'  No ;  for  Mrs.  Gordon  is  not  really  my  mother ; 
only  my  step-mother  ;  but  she  is  just  as  good  as  a 
real  mother,  for  I  never  knew  any  other.  Dear  me ! 
how  strange  all  this  is !  And  you  will  go  up  and 
live  with  us  in  Temple  Street,  and " 

"  I  can't  leave  my  mother,"  interrupted  Katy. 

"  Your  mother  shall  go  too." 

"  She  is  too  sick  now." 

Grace  continued  to  talk  as  fast  as  she  could,  laying 
out  ever  so  many  plans  for  the  future,  till  the  carriage 
reached  Colvin  Court.  I  will  not  follow  them  into 
the  chamber  of  the  sick  woman  ;  where  Mrs.  Gordon, 
by  a  slow  process  that  did  not  agitate  the  invalid  too 
violently,  revealed  herself  to  her  sister.  The  fine 
lady  of  Temple  Street  had  a  heart,  a  warm  and  trua 


THK  FORTUNES  OF  KATT  RKDBURX.     1?()0 

heart,  and  not  that  day,  nor  that  night,  nor  for  a 
week,  did  she  leave  the  sick  bed  of  the  sufferer. 
There,  in  the  midst  of  her  sister's  poverty,  she  did  a 
sister's  offices. 

It  was  three  weeks  before  Mrs.  Redburn  was  in  a 
condition  to  be  moved  to  her  sister's  house  ;  and 
then  she  was  once  more  in  the  midst  of  the  luxury 
and  splendor  of  her  early  life.  One  day,  when  she 
had  improved  so  much  as  to  be  able  to  bear  the  fa 
tigue  of  a  long  conversation,  Mrs.  Gordon,  who  had 
thus  far  declined  to  discuss  any  exciting  topics  with 
the  invalid,  proposed  to  have  every  thing  explained. 
Each  had  a  very  long  story  to  tell ;  but  as  the  reader 
already  knows  Mrs.  Redburn's  history,  I  shall  only 
briefly  narrate  that  of  Mrs.  Gordon  and  the  Guthrie 
family,  after  the  departure  of  the  former. 

Mr.  Guthrie,  the  father  of  both,  died  two  years 
after  the  flight  of  Margaret,  —  Mrs.  Redburn,  — when 
of  course  there  was  a  large  property  to  be  divided. 
Diligent  search  was  made  for  Margaret  in  America, 
but  her  husband  had  declared  to  some  person  in  Liv 
erpool  that  he  had  an  engagement  in  Montreal. 
This  place  was  thoroughly  canvassed,  but  without 
23 


266  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

euccess.  No  trace  of  the  runaways  could  be  dis 
covered.  Agents  were  sent  to  various  parts  of  Amer 
ica,  and  no  tidings  of  Margaret  had  ever  reached 
them. 

About  two  years  after  her  father's  death,  Jane  — 
Mrs.  Gordon  —  had  married  a  very  wealthy  gentle 
man  from  Baltimore.  He  was  then  a  widower,  with 
one  child  —  Grace  Gordon.  She  had  come  to  Amer 
ica  with  him,  and  resided  in  Baltimore  till  his  death, 
a  period  of  only  two  years.  Then,  having  never 
liked  to  live  in  that  city,  she  had  removed  to  Boston, 
where  she  had  a  few  friends.  She  had  invested  her 
money  and  resided  there,  very  happily  situated,  and 
with  no  desire  to  return  to  her  native  land. 

Her  father's  estate  had  been  divided,  and  the  por- 
tfon  which  belonged  to  Margaret  was  held  in  trust 
for  seven  years,  —  when  the  law  presumed  she  was 
dead,  —  and  was  then  delivered  to  her  sister,  who  was 
the  only  remaining  heir.  Now  that  she  had  ap 
peared,  it  was  promptly  paid  over  to  her,  and  Mrs. 
Redburn,  before  poor  and  proud,  was  now  rich,  and 
humility  never  sat  more  gracefully  on  the  brow  of 
woman  than  on  hers. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURX.     267 

Katy  and  her  mother  had  entered  upon  a  new  life ; 
and  in  the  midst  of  luxury  and  splendors,  they  could 
not  forget  the  past,  nor  cease  to  thank  God  for  his 
past  and  present  mercies.  Mrs.  Gordon  used  to 
declare  it  was  strange  she  had  never  thought  that 
Mrs.  Kedburn  might  be  her  sister ;  but  it  was 
declared  that  stranger  things  than  that  had  hap 
pened. 

Katy  continued  to  go  to  school  with  great  regu 
larity,  and  became  an  excellent  scholar.  She  was 
beloved  by  all  her  companions,  and  Grace,  who  was 
married  shortly  after  Katy  entered  the  family,  always 
regarded  her  with  the  affection  of  a  sister,  insisting 
that  she  should  spend  half  the  time  at  her  house. 
Mrs.  Redburn  was  soon  completely  restored  to 
health.  She  had  a  fortune  to  manage  now,  and 
when  Dr.  Flynch  proposed  to  her  to  collect  her 
rents  and  take  charge  of  her  affairs,  she  respect 
fully  declined  the  offer.  Mrs.  Gordon  did  not  like 
him  as  well  as  formerly,  for  her  sister  had  opened 
her  eyes  in  regard  to  his  true  character,  and  she 
soon  found  an  opportunity  to  discharge  him. 


263  POOR    AND    PROUD,    OR 

Having  carried  Katy  through  her  principal  trou 
bles,  and  chronicled  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  candy 
trade,  we  shall  step  forward  ten  years  to  take  a 
final  look  at  her  and  her  friends,  and  then  bid 
them  farewell. 


THE    Ft7A,r\.J*E3    OK    KATT    REDBURN. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

KATY    GOES    TO    CHURCH,   AND    HAS    A    BIRTHDAY 
PARTY. 

TEN  years  is  a  long  time  —  long  enough  to  change 
the  child  into  a  woman,  the  little  candy  merchant 
into  a  fine  lady.  I  suppose,  therefore,  that  my  young 
friends  will  need  to  be  introduced  to  Miss  Redburn. 
There  she  sits  in  the  pleasant  apartment  in  Temple 
Street,  where  the  picture  of  the  mischievous  girl 
still  hangs,  though  it  looks  very  little  like  the  ma 
tron  at  her  side,  for  whom  it  was  taken.  She  is  not 
beautiful  enough  to  be  the  heroine  of  a  romance, 
neither  has  she  done  any  absurd  thing  ;  she  has  only 
supported  her  mother  when  she  had  no  one  else  to 
care  for  her.  But  Katy  is  irresistible  if  she  is  not 
pretty.  She  still  looks  as  pleasant  as  a  morning  in 
June,  and  smiles  sweetly  when  any  one  speaks  to  her, 
and  when  she  speaks  to  any  one. 
23* 


270  POOR 


I  am  sorry  I  cannct  inform  my  young  lady 
friends  he  w  Miss  Redburn  was  dressed,  or  how  she 
proposed  to  dress,  at  her  birthday  party,  which  was 
to  come  off  the  following  week  —  what  silks,  what 
laces,  what  muslins,  and  what  jewels  she  was  to  wear. 
I  can  only  say  that  she  was  dressed  very  plainly,  and 
that  her  garments  were  exceedingly  becoming  ;  and 
that  she  had  steadily  resisted  the  solicitations  of  sun 
dry  French  milliners  and  dress-makers  to  exceed  her 
usual  simplicity  at  the  party  —  and  I  cordially  com 
mend  her  example  to  all  young  ladies. 

While  Miss  Redburn  sat.  at  the  window,  the  door 
bell  rang  with  great  violence  ;  and  Michael  —  yes,  Mi 
chael  —  he  is  still.  there,  a  veteran  in  the  service  of 
Mrs.  Gordon,  and  fully  believing  that  Katy  is  an 
angel  —  Michael  hastened  to  admit  Grace.  She  is  a 
little  older  than  when  we  saw  her  last,  but  she  is  the 
same  Grace.  She  enters  the  room,  kisses  Katy  with 
as  much  zeal  as  though  she  had  not  seen  her  for  a 
month,  though  they  had  met  the  day  before.  She 
had  scarcely  saluted  her  cousin  before  a  little  fat 
man  of  six  came  tumbling  into  the  room,  for  he  had 
not  been  able  to  keep  up  with  his  mother. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  KEDBURN.     271 

"  Come,  aunty,"  said  little  Tommy,  who  persisted 
in  calling  her  by  this  title,  as  he  rolled  up  to  Miss 
Redburi ,  who  gave  him  a  hearty  kiss  —  "  come, 
aunty,  I  want  you  to  come  right  down  into  the  kitchen, 
and  make  me  a  lot  of  molatheth  candy." 

f'  Not  now,  Tommy  "  — would  you  believe  it, 
reader  ?  that  little  boy's  name  is  Thomas  Howard 
Parker  —  "  not  now,  Tommy.  I  came  to  tell  you, 
Katy,  that  the  King  of  the  Billows  has  been  tele- 
graphed." 

"  Has  she  ?  "  exclaimed  Katy,  a  deep  blush  suf 
fusing  her  cheek. 

"  Yes  ;  and  you  must  go  right  down  to  the  wharf, 
or  we  shall  not  be  in  season  to  see  Captain  Howard, 
who  is  coming  up  in  a  pilot  boat." 

Miss  Redburn  hastened  to  put  on  her  things,  and 
she  and  Mrs.  Parker  seated  themselves  in  the  car 
riage  that  waited  them. 

Of  course  you  know  Captain  Howard,  reader?  lie 
has  followed  the  seas  only  eleven  years ;  and  though 
but  twenty-five  years  old,  he  is  the  commander  of  a 
fine  clipper,  and  sails  in  the  Liverpool  line.  He  is 
frequently  quoted  as  an  example  of  what  patient 


272  POOK   AND    PROUD,    OZ 

perseverance  will  accomplish ;  for,  with  verj  little  aid 
from  friends,  he  has  worked  his  way  from  the  fore 
castle  into  the. cabin.  He  is  a  self-educated  man, 
and  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  thorough  sailor 
and  a  perfect  gentleman. 

Pursuant  to  a  little  arrangement  made  between 
Captain  Howard  and  Miss  Redburn,  just  as  he  de 
parted  on  this  voyage,  they  were  both  seen  in  church 
on  the  following  Thursday  afternoon  ;  and  when  they 
came  out,  people  addressed  Katy  as  Mrs.  Howard 
But  to  pass  on  to  the  occasion  which  she  had  chosen 
to  call  a  birthday  party,  though  it  was  not  exactly 
that ;  and  as  it  came  immediately  after  the  church 
service,  some  called  it  a  levee. 

There  are  a  great  many  persons  in  the  Gordon 
mansion,  as  many  as  two  hundred,  I  should  think. 
Of  course  I  cannot  stop  to  introduce  all  of  them,  but 
there  are  a  few  who  deserve  this  favor. 

"  Mr.  Sneed,  I  am  delighted  to  see  you,"  said  Mrs, 
Howard,  as  a  very  tail  and  very  slim  gentleman,  ele 
gantly  dressed,  approached. 

"  You  do  me  honor,  madam.  It  is  the  superlative 
felicity  of  my  sublunary  existence  to  congratulate  you 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KATY  REDBURN.     273 

on  this  auspicious  occasion,"  replied  Mr.  Sneed,  as 
he  gently  pressed  the  gloved  hand  of  the  lady. 

That  sounds  just  like  Master  Simon  Sneed,  only 
very  much  intensified.  Simon  is  a  salesman  still,  in 
a  large  establishment  —  has  never  risen  above  that 
position,  and  probably  never  will ;  for,  born  to  be  a 
gentleman,  he  feels  as  much  above  his  business  as  his 
business  really  is  above  him. 

Simon's  father  and  mother  say  a  pleasant  word  to 
the  bride,  and  pass  on.  And  here  comes  a  great  fat 
woman,  whose  tongue  flies  like  the  shuttle  in  a  loom. 
Well,  it  is  the  captain's  mother.  Since  her  son  has 
been  prosperous,  she  has  had  an  easy  time  of  it, 
and  has  grown  very  corpulent. 

"  Who  do  you  think  has  come,  Katy  ? "  puffed 
Mrs.  Howard. 

"  I  don't  know.     Who  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Colvin,  that  was  !     Mrs.  McCarty,  that  is." 

Some  of  the  very  good-natured  people  laughed, 
and  some  of  the  very  fastidious  ones  turned  up  their 
noses,  whon  they  saw  Mrs.  McCarty  so  warmly  re 
ceived  by  the  bride  ;  but  she  did  not  care  who  laughed 
or  who  sneered ;  she  was  not  too  proud  to  welcome, 


271  POOR    AT*D    PROUD. 

in  the  hour  of  prosperity  and  happiness,  those  who 
had  been  her  friends  in  adversity. 

"  Mrs.  Howard,  I  congratulate  you,"  said  a  fat 
man,  who  was  puffing  and  blowing  at  the  heat  of  the 
room. 

It  was  an  ex-mayor ;  and  after  he  had  said  a  few 
pleasant  words,  he  passed  on  to  make  room  for  a 
hundred  more  who  were  waiting  to  speak  to  the 
bride. 

That  was  a  very  pleasant  party ;  but  as  we  are  op 
posed  to  crowded  rooms  and  late  hours,  we  may  aa 
well  retire. 

The  next  day  the  happy  couple  started  upon  a 
bridal  tour;  and  on  their  return,  Captain  Howard 
sailed  for  Liverpool,  in  his  fine  ship,  with  Mrs.  How 
ard  as  a  passenger. 

And  now,  my  young  friends,  adieu.  If  you  are 
poor,  don't  be  too  proud  to  work  at  any  honest  occu 
pation  ;  but  be  too  proud  to  do  wrong  —  too  proud  to 
degrade  yourself  in  your  own  eyes,  by  doing  a  mean 
act ;  and  in  this  sense  you  may  truly  be  "  POOB  AND 


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